Quote from www.trainorders.com message "Crawford Hill & Powder River" 7/30/03

Between Douglas and Bill, there are three side roads that offer good
to excellent views of the Orin Sub. All three are to the right for
northbound traffic and are the only public roads to the east in that
stretch. The first is Flat Top Road about 8 miles north of Douglas.
This is the road from Shawnee. It is gravel, but you can park just
off the overpass (despite the sign, no seems to care if you do). The
overpass is at the summit of Walker Hill, so loads pick up quite a bit
of speed as they pass by. The other two roads are on the grade, so
loads creep by. Empties on the other hand fly by at about 50 mph.
About three miles further is Walker Creek Road. The road is paved and
the photographic view from the overpass is better, but the overpass is
narrow with no shoulder on the approaches, so you have to park a bit
down from the overpass and walk up. The third road is Robinson Road,
this is a dirt road that crosses the tracks at grade.

The road north of Bill is Steckley Road. County Road 34 is to the west
of Highway 59, while Steckley is to the east (and is the Thunderbasin
National Grasslands access road, that is purely public land). Though
gravel, this road is easy for cars except in the worst rains. The
overpass is wide and there is plenty of room to park. The view except
at mid-day is excellent for trains in both directions. Though gravel,
this road is easy for cars except in the worst rains.

The road into the mines is Antelope Coal Mine Road (CR 37). It and it's
connections mostly follow the tracks to Cordero Mine. To follow the
tracks, follow the road until the T intersection with Edwards Road and
go left (right goes to North Rochelle Mine). Cross over the tracks and
turn right on Hilight Road. At the Junction with Wyoming 450, go straight
across to stay on Hilight Road. Going right on Highway 450 will take you
to Black Thunder and Jacob's Ranch mines where there's usually a train
or six waiting to get in or out. Further north, Lawyer and Hoadley roads
(both gravel) will go out to overpasses as does T-7. Just north of T-7
Road, the road will come to an intersection where you only choice is to
go left. This will take you back to Highway 59. The main route is paved
the whole way, except for a road work site just south of T-7 Road.

Bishop Road is about six miles further north on Highway 59. It goes by
Belle Ayr mine and under the tracks. It is paved. The underpass is at
the spot where BNSF puts a single SD70MAC helper on to shove trains up
Whitetail Hill.