To see a much more detailed map click here.  The map is big, so you may have to scroll around to see all of it.

     We start our trip at Sunset Jct. in Spokane, WA.   It is here that the "low line/side" splits off and heads for Marshall, WA and beyond.   The low side is almost always reserved for eastbound trains, but very rarely it will see a westbound.  Continuing on past Sunset Jct. the tracks cross a huge bridge over the Latah Creek.  The west end of the bridge is split with the north leg heading towards Seattle, via Stevens Pass, and the south leg turning towards Marshall and beyond via the "high line/side".  This jct. is called Latah Jct., and there are several good vantage points from the road bridge over I-90 and a hillside west of the jct.  The high side, which is normally for westbounds, curves south into trees.  The old ex-UP roadbed runs parallel to the BNSF high side as they head towards Marshall, WA.  If you are willing to walk down the gravel roadbed several interesting and beautiful shots came be found. 

     About 3/4 mile down the tracks, they cross Thorpe Rd. on a high fill.  Turn onto Thorpe from Hwy 195 then immediately take a left onto Marshall Rd and you will be able to follow the tracks fairly closely.  Continuing on Marshall Rd you will come to a little wooden bridge across the tracks to your right.  From here there are several different angles to choose from.  One of the best is of westbounds in the late afternoon as they grind uphill towards Marshall underneath the small wooden bridge.  From here the road heads downhill, crosses the low side tracks, and runs into Cheney-Spokane Rd.  From here on to Marshall the high side is not very accessible unless you are willing to walk a ways.  Just before Marshall the siding of Overlook is located.  This is where Boardman Coal trains sometimes stop to change crews from BNSF to UP.  At Marshall, Cheney-Spokane road crosses both tracks and provides some good angles from the bridge.  You can also park and walk around some.   There is a paved walking path between the low side and high side.  If you follow this you will find more interesting shots.

    Ok now back to Sunset Jct. and the low side.  Just after the line splits, it goes over I-90 and into Empire Siding.  The end of the siding can be accessed by several little streets in Spokane.  Also from there you can get some good shots of the big bridge over Latah creek.  The tracks now stick on a hillside as they descend until the other end of Empire siding.  You can follow the tracks for a little while by taking South Inland Empire Way.  This road also offers some interesting views of the tracks as they cling to the hillside.  When you reach Hwy 195 turn south.  After driving under the tracks take Cheney-Spokane Rd to the right.  You can pretty much stay within site of the low side all the way to Marshall, WA, on this road.  One of the better locations is just before reaching Qualchan road.   There is a little fill and a cut with a curve.  You can get below the tracks or above the tracks depending on your tastes.  Another mile down the tracks is a beautiful S-curve.  This is best photographed in the afternoon by a westbound.   The challenge is to find a westbound on the low side since this rarely happens.   There are multiple other photographic locations which are all easily spotted and accessible from Cheney-Spokane Rd.