Marilyn Weiser currently serves as co-coordinator of the North Dakota Geographic Alliance, following a 34-year teaching career. In September 2010, Weiser received the National Council for Geographic Education’s Outstanding Support for Geographic Education award.

Photo by Al Christianson, Donnybrook, North Dakota

Eckelson
Lake is west of Valley City, North Dakota in eastern North Dakota. The
latitude and longitude coordinates for this lake are 46.9280, -98.3037
and the altitude is 1407 feet.
 
A friend was traveling through
the area and noticed the beautiful, smooth-as-glass lake surface. He is a
train enthusiast and knew that one would soon be on the tracks across
the lake. It was worth the wait! It was a Burlington Northern Santa Fe
#9290 westbound grain train crossing Eckelson Lake near Sanborn, North
Dakota.
 
A ‘teachable moment’ to help students appreciate the
beauty of fresh water as it reflects the movement of grain across the
state of North Dakota, likely on its way back from Minneapolis. Another
day it may have been an oil tank train on its way to an Oklahoma oil
refinery.