As this police car passed through the shimmering heat waves rising from last night’s north bound freight, I wandered if maybe it was driven by the same officer I had met as I prepared Sancho to shoot the photo I posted on May 19. Just before I shot that picture, I parked our red Ford Escape in the overflow dirt parking at the Alaska Railroad passenger pickup site and launched Sancho from the roof. I had already figured it out and quickly positioned Sancho about about 60 feet away from me on the other side of the tracks. I heard the whistle blow. The train was coming!   I was surprised to suddenly hear a man’s voice call out from just behind me. “Is everything okay?” I looked back and there stood a police officer. “Yes,” I said. “I’m just getting ready to photograph the train with my drone.”   “We got a call that you were driving on the tracks,” he said, politely.   “That’s crazy,” I said. I could tell by his expression that he saw it was crazy, too. He seemed a little embarrassed to even have to ask.   “Don’t worry,” he said. “You’re fine, but we have to check it out. Where is your drone?” I pointed to Sancho, red and green lights flashing yet still hard to see against the hill behind him.   “Where? I don’t see it.”   “Right there!” I pointed again. The whistle blew again.   “I see it now. You’re good. I just need to see your driver’s license.”   “Please don’t make me miss my photograph,” I pled.   “I won’t. I just need to call in your driver’s license.” The train was less than half mile away, coming fast. I dug out my license. “Want to see my pilot’s license, too?”   “No, just your driver’s license.” He went to his car and called it in.   “Don’t worry at all,” he said when he handed my license back. “You’re fine. Just don’t fly your drone in front of the train. I hope you get a good picture.”   The train barreled toward us. He got into his car. The train rumbled and screeched past. I got my picture.   Last night, I wondered if it was the same officer in this police car. I wondered if he had recognized me, off in the distance down below, taking pictures in the rain through the open window of the red Ford Escape. 5/30/21 Photograph courtesy of Bill Hess