The hot Stockton, CA to Willow Springs, IL Z-train waste no time making track speed up the more than 2% grade of Tehachapi Pass as it snakes through the curves of Allard. This train had to stopped at Caliente for a bit to inspect an unreleased hand brake on one of the cars, and would later hold at Tehachapi to fix an open container door. With the crew being a Bakersfield to Needles "long pool", these delays made it for a photo finish into Needles.
Landscape photography is difficult due to the challenge of combining good light and good scenery. Good railroad photography enters another level of complexity since it requires the first two while there is a train in view.