The first 1/2 of the grade from Minturn to Red Cliff could go head to head with any of the toughest grades in the USA. From Red Cliff west however there is a clear winner, a long twisting high al... (more)

A Geneva, UT bound taconite train rolls down the west slope of Tennessee Pass, passing the small town of Red Cliff with a typical pair of former SP AC's in the lead.

New Southern Pacific AC4000s scream up Eagle River Canyon with a unit coal train. Some of my favorite rail-fan memories were made on Tennessee Pass.

The rear end helpers, 5396, 5333, 5322, help push 100-car #790 eastbound coal out of Belden siding at Red Cliff towards Tennessee Pass in November 1981. Ahead on the point are 3099 3033 3056 3014... (more)

Autoracks roll by Beldon Siding approaching Red Cliff

An empty SP hopper train approaches Belden Siding near Red Cliff.

westbound DRGW train descending Tennessee Pass at Red Cliff CO

With the sound of the dynamics reverberating through the canyon, 5381 5389 5404 5400 and 5376 ease their westbound 100 empty coal cars downgrade through Red Cliff on the way down from Tennessee Pa... (more)

SP empty coal train on Tennessee Pass

Twenty locomotives with 55,950 hp on the one train! A 100-car #790 eastbound coal heads out of Belden behind 3099 3033 3056 3014 3026 3020 3111. Assisting on the way up to Tennessee Pass were ... (more)

3008 3030 3104 drop downgrade from Tennessee Pass under the high and low level bridges at Red Cliff with #75 westbound freight in November 1981.

With the fall colours of the Aspen starting to appear, helpers 9616(CN) 3042 9607(CN) 3021 3022 3098 head away from the camera as they return to Minturn after assisting a westbound freight to Tenn... (more)

5356 3021 3064 3071 and eastbound #48 departs Belden siding on the approach to Red CLiff on the climb to Tennessee Pass from Minturn. Out of sight helpers were 3128 3110 3016 3099 3073 3124 3113.

Trains no longer run along Tennessee Pass, but hikers enjoy the area along this section of the line near Red Cliff.

A Rio Grande logo still remains on this bridge over the Eagle River on the former D&RGW Tennessee Pass Route. A train has not passed here in almost ten years but the memories linger.