Many years ago, the Branch Train was a mid- to late-afternoon departure out of St. Maries, but in recent years it's normally been leaving town mid-day, noon to 1pm. Heard from someone who was down there just recently and he confirmed this is still the case. Winter being what it is, anything can change, and what constitutes a "daylight run in the winter" could be open for interpretation weather-wise. And even if the sky is clear, by the time he leaves Clarkia northbound with log loads, your sunlight will be fading fast. Currently setting before 4pm. Several nice shots from along the highway, but the best locations on the branch are deep in the river canyon, accessible this time of year only if you care to walk many miles on snow-covered track (STMA won't appreciate that)or have a vehicle able to handle deep snow or packed ice across several miles of steep, twisting, remote forest roads.