Locomotives representing both sides of the Southern Pacific/Union Pacific merger hustle the LA-bound Swift RoadRailer through Cougar, California in summer 1998.

An eastbound Southern Pacific train of lumber empties pulls the 1.4% grade through Cougar, California, helped by a rebuilt SD45 wearing the colors of the failed Santa Fe merger.

The Coast Starlight is running behind schedule as it pulls away from Mount Shasta on a summer morning in 1994.

When the Modoc Line was closed during 1987 and 1988, Southern Pacific routed Oregon lumber traffic to the Ogden gateway via Roseville using an EURGM symbol. One of these trains heads west on the S... (more)

The Coast Starlight heads north near Mount Shasta, with four private cars on the rear of the train.

Over two years after Union Pacific acquired Southern Pacific, a northbound intermodal train passes Mount Shasta with a solid set of Espee power.

A Southern Pacific freight is seen near Cougar California, with snowcapped Mount Shasta visible in the background, on July 26th 1938. Otto Conrad Perry photo, from my collection.

The Coast Starlight is northbound in the shadow of Mount Shasta.

A Union Pacific Z train with brand new power heads north in the shadow of Mount Shasta.

On my favorite stretch of mountain railroad in the country, a former "Pepsi Can" P32-8BWH leads Amtrak's northbound Coast Starlight past the former location of Cougar siding on the ex-So... (more)

The Coast Starlight heads north in the shadow of Mount Shasta. When the diner goes by there will be a nice whiff of breakfast.

Espee's first two SD70Ms lead the PTPCX west on the Shasta Route. At Dunsmuir, a helicopter would follow the train down the Sacramento River Canyon to obtain images for advertising media.

Another spectacular clear morning sky greets the northbound Coast Starlight as it banks into a curve approaching Cougar, California beneath a snowy Mount Shasta.

Last Light. The shadows are growing long as a short northbound manifest blasts up the final miles of the grade between Cougar and Grass Lake in the final minutes before the sun drops below ... (more)

The northbound Coast Starlight bursts out of a large rock cut just south of Cougar, California on the long climb to Grass Lake beneath the spectacular backdrop of Mount Shasta. Taken just 20 secon... (more)