The Union Pacific had a tough climb in either direction out of the Las Vegas Valley. Here, a few miles west of Apex, Nevada (site of a large industrial park) and about 17 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas, we see a pair of helpers heading back down the grade to assist the next northbound freight. This is the Union Pacific's Los Angeles & Salt Lake line between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.
It looks hot and dry here, but in December one is more likely to freeze. In summer, however, temperatures of around 110 degrees would not be uncommon here; this was emphatically not a summer trainwatching spot.
