A northbound empty coal train arrives Denver. Time was running out for the older GE's on BN's roster, in a couple of years scenes like this would be history thanks to the flood of SD70MAC's that t... (more)

Nearly 33 years ago I captured this view of a UP MOW train eastbound at Arnolds Loop on the Shafter Sub. in eastern Nevada. That guy hanging out of the 2nd unit’s window is the conductor, my goo... (more)

Westbound Harbor train picking up helpers Frost

A heavy coal drag crawls towards Davy behind 8081 plus SD40-2 CR 6417 and GP40-2 CR 3356.

As an eastbound pig train waits on the mainline, C30-7 No. 8162 backs towards it to act as lead helper over Tehachapi Pass.

On the morning of October 5, 1985, Santa Fe 8020 East accelerates out of Avon after coming off the Franklin Canyon grade. The train is a 54-car 991 bound for Chicago. In the distance is the tall s... (more)

In April 1987, Santa Fe 8133 East, a heavy manifest, roars up the approach to the Loop with an "SPSF" merger unit on the point. One of the GEs in the consist appears to have a bad inject... (more)

Dropping down the steep grade at Warren, Santa Fe 8118 East rolls through the sweeping curve by which the SP was able to overcome the tremendous incline in the defile that connects the Mojave Dese... (more)

A Santa Fe 991 train fights curvature and a 1.0 percent grade as it roars uphill toward tunnel 3. All around is grass and stubble that's been bleached by the sun, and will dominate the landscape t... (more)

Seaboard Coast Line GE C30-7 7060 and 7020, painted in Family Lines System colors, at Bostic, NC in March 20, 1981. No photographer listed on slide.

It was a grey day for some grey locomotives as Family Lines painted units get serviced at the South Louisville shops. Today this site is home for the University of Louisville's football stadium. ... (more)

A heavy coal drag grinds through Davy. Trailing Conrail units are SD40-2 6417 and GP40-2 3356.

Elephant Boats

Five 3000 horsepower GE’s (C30-7’s and a U30C), all elephant-style, bring 111 cars of southbound coal into the “sag” at Palmer Lake, Colorado.

Another trainload of Powder River coal approaches Palmer Lake, Colorado. The Burlington Northern typically assigned C30-7’s, SD40-2’s, and U30C’s, and all three types are represented here.

Colorado has some beautiful skies, but they can be a source of angst and frustration. Here a Burlington Northern coal train, headed south on the Joint Line at Spruce, is about to fall under a shad... (more)