Montana Rail Link is always good to see! Here is a pretty substantial 'shortline' that hauls a great deal of tonnage under somewhat previous 'standards'. Thanks for providing that. The last domain of active SDP-45s (?) which I trace my TE&Y youth to...and they were on their way out on the BNSF then, so "thanks", Drew!

I haven't really understood the 'bad weather for pictures' idea, though. All weather is good for pictures, provided a little thought is given. Whether we like it or not, not every opportunity lends itself to bright blue Kodachrome skies and big cumulous clouds. Personally, I like to use an orange or red filter and changing over to B&W film when the atmosphere gets hazy or filled with scattered clouds. Especially with spring-time thunderhead activity. Don't forget, DR-5 in Denver, Colo. can change several makes of B&W negative film into transparencies (slides) if you follow their balance table during exposure.

Rainy days are similar to hazy and cloudiness, with a higher contrast influence placed on exposure. A smoggy day in the San Joaquin Valley or the eastern recesses of the Inland Empire can be intensley incorporated with a long lens and shallow depth of field (as in 400mm @ f5,6) with a higher contrast filter to give more of a 'feel' for the district than a 'nuts and bolts' 3/4 view calendar shot.