Breaking the Calm

by Mike Lee

Title

Breaking the Calm

Artist

Mike Lee

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photography

Description

16 seconds of exposure captures the motion of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train streaking through the blue hour in Lassen National Forest, Northern California, just off State Route 44 near Long Lake. The ethereal blur of the train contrasts with the stillness of the rugged forest landscape, creating a striking blend of speed and tranquility.

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad is one of the largest freight rail networks in North America, with roots tracing back to the 19th century. Formed in 1995 through the merger of Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, BNSF operates over 32,500 miles of track across 28 states and three Canadian provinces, transporting a vast range of goods. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2010, BNSF remains a crucial part of the continent’s supply chain.

Railroads played a key role in Lassen County’s development, particularly with the Southern Pacific and Great Northern Railroads. The Fernley & Lassen Railroad, built in 1914, connected Fernley, Nevada, to Susanville, California, primarily for lumber transport. The Western Pacific Railroad also supported the area’s economy, though much of Lassen County’s rail infrastructure has since been abandoned. Remnants of this history, including old railbeds, tunnels, and depots, still mark the landscape.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤, 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘈 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵-𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘕𝘚𝘍 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵.

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September 21st, 2020

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