Joy in all its Sadness
Previously, dear reader, I shared an image of Substation 9 from across the Clark Fork River, taken from the side of today's I-90. Today, access is difficult and by permission only. One must travel the old right of way in from the west by using the same roadbed that was the foundation for all of those electrics that came this way many decades ago. But when I-90 was only the Sunset Highway there was a different path to walk to this remote outpost. Seen above, the way to get there (apart from the rails themselves) was the small suspension bridge whose remnants are seen above. This was a common way to connect the world with some of these remote substations found across the river. It allowed a path to the living quarters of those who tended these substations and lived here during the times of Lines West. When these photos were taken, now nearly 20 years ago, the graffiti on the old substation was far less than it is today. Nonetheless, the entrance stands barren and dark and