Although the best-known scenic attraction along the Union Pacific's Los Angeles & Salt Lake route is the Meadow Valley Wash (including Rainbow Canyon), it also passes throught the short but rugged Afton Canyon between Kelso and Yermo, California. As in the Meadow Valley Wash, the UP had problems here with a line originally located at too low a level; on one occasion the Canyon's only tunnel was turned into an aquaduct during a particularly severe flash flood and was ultimately daylighted. Here an eastbound freight led by nos. 342 and 251 works its way through the Canyon at a considerably safer elevation.
