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      Who:  Union Pacific. What you'll find:  The Meadow Valley Wash (MVW), is a very remote railfan location. The roads are very rough and primitive and the proximity to civilization limited.  SO, there are definite things to prepare for if you plan to make a trip to this area.  1. First and foremost a good map, preferably a topographical map. I use Delorme's Nevada Atlas and Gazetteer. ( Large, red, paperback, map style book available at any good bookstore, or stop at a Wal-Mart / Target in Vegas, they all carry them.) With atlas in hand,  you'll find it hard to get lost once you're in the wash, but if for any reason you need to take a side road you'd better have a clue where it leads and how far you're gonna go to get to wherever it leads.  2. FILL your gas tank in Caliente to the north and Moapa in the south. This is the ONLY gas for 80 miles, don't get caught with a low supply of the stuff.  3. A truck is a definite from Carp south to Moapa.  It doesn't necessarily have to be a 4X4, mine's not, but a car just won't have the clearance you are going to need to get through the wash. BE AWARE... I have gotten several flats in the southern portion of the wash. Don't go unless you have a good spare on board. I carry a full size spare, and the smaller  "donut " just to be safe.  North of Carp is A-OK, even for a moped if you wish. Heck the first 20 miles or so south of Caliente is paved.  4. The time of year is very important. If you plan a summer trip, get your vehicle serviced first!  Any overheating this deep into the desert could be disastrous.  Have at a minimum,  2 gallons of water for your car.  5. Read carefully... I would bring at least 1-2 gallons of water per human, per day.  Please trust me when I say it will be VERY HOT and VERY DRY everywhere in the wash. ( Especially south of Carp.)  6. If you have an emergency chances are that someone will be along in a few hours. The locals use the wash frequently and I see folks on a regular basis, especially north of Carp. It is a bit more lonely to the south, so be aware there.

    When to go:  The best time will definitely be the spring. Longer daylight hours without the extreme heat. The vegetation is in full bloom, although fairly sparse.  The weekdays will be busier, and Sundays are generally rotten. Very few trains. MOW crews will be found in the wash at anytime, and unless you get really unlucky they should be in places where you can get around them. By that I mean driving. On the southern end the road is single lane and often impassable to all but one vehicle. Be prepared to back up. It may be necessary. Remember some of the roads in here are UP's private road, don't be an dork and bug the MOW crews.

    What to expect:  The north section of the MVW is definitely the more awe inspiring location. This area would be highlighted by the red rock sandstone and tree lined wash that has water in it year around. There are even 2 beaver dams in this section of the wash!  You'll see some awesome cliffs and fire reds and oranges, probably the brightest colors I have ever spotted, and I have been all over the southwest. The roads in the north are in great shape, and passable for every vehicle. There are farms and campgrounds, a state park and 6 tunnels that the trains pass through. By far this area is the best for those who want to avoid the harshness of the desert.  How to get there:  You can get to Caliente by going north out of Las Vegas on I-15 and exiting at US 93 (exit 64) and turning left. The UP main is right behind you and you are 130 miles from Caliente. If you have a truck and want to shave off 30 miles try the Kane Spring road that leads too Elgin from US 93. It's 30 miles of fairly decent dirt and will get you to the tracks at Elgin, then north on 317 to Caliente, (this is the same road you'll follow south if you come in on US 93.) If you are coming form the north (Utah), get off I-15 in Cedar City, UT and take SR 56 (exit 59) and head west. 95 miles later you'll arrive in Caliente, and along the way pass Modena, UT, and the UP main. There are also roads from St. George, UT., Ely and Wendover, NV. Once in Caliente, follow the tracks south out of town. Basically,  US 93 south and turn right onto State Route 318. This is the main trail. Side roads get you closer to the tracks, as they weave back and forth in the canyon, but be prepared to cross the stream... without a bridge. Amenities: ( I'll be checking out some of these in the future, look for an update mid-summer 2001.  There are several local motels in Caliente. Food is limited to local restaurants, there is no McD's or the like. Gas is limited to a Chevron station, and not much else. It is a small town, but you'll be ok.

     What to expect:  The southern end is the most barren section of the wash. Seclusion has its privileges though. You'll be on a primitive one lane dirt road here, that is literally right beside the track the entire way to Farrier, a siding just outside the wash. There are actually 2 roads and even 3 in the wider parts of the wash. These can be used to get around MOW crew vehicles and are BLM ( Bureau of Land Management ) roads. The way to know is if it isn't right beside the tracks, you are on federal property, which to the best of my knowledge is PERFECTLY LEGAL. There are forestry markers on these roads and NO, NO TRESPASSING signs. These roads are not maintained like the UP access road though, and will often join the UP road in narrow canyons and across deeper sections of wash.
    The landscape here is very different from that in the north. You'll find that the mountains are more rounded and have less cliffs. There is no color, except a light brown, and there is more desert vegetation ie: cactus, sagebrush and mesquite shrubs, and almost no trees and grasses like the northern section has. You'll like the stark contrast of this section however, and how the trains stand out against this backdrop. How to get there:  There are 2 ways to get here. First continue on RT.  318 south at Carp, and the dirt road will lead you here.  If you are coming up from Las Vegas, exit I-15 at Moapa, exit # 90 which is RT. 168. Head west ( the only way you can go ), and you'll reach the UP overpass in about 3 miles. Turn North (Right) and you're on the MVW road. It follows the track fairly close until you get to Farrier and then it is right there the rest of the way to Carp. Amenities: There is even less in Moapa than in Caliente. A gas station or two and that's all. Be prepared to stay in Caliente, or return to Las Vegas when the days over. Of course out under the stars with the coyotes is nice!