Rio Grande lumber drag 126 climbs through Detour in Spanish Fork Canyon on March 20, 1988. US Highway 6 follows the path of Soldier Creek near the old Tucker rest stop. The highway was relocated h... (more)

On New Year's Day 1988, Rio Grande train 142 tops 7440 ft. Soldier Summit. Dispatcher 5 has lined a westbound train down the eastward main track at Positive ABS 6519E.

On Christmas Eve '87, Rio Grande's 101 train descends a snowy Soldier Summit just west of Detour.

A Utah Railway IPP coal empty tops 7440 ft. Soldier Summit on a beautiful March 28, 2013 morning. The group of classic searchlight block signals date to the former D&RGW.

A heavy Rio Grande train 136 grinds eastward through Gilluly on Sept. 26, 1987. A pair of EMD SD40T-2s are supplemented by a pair of GP40-2s. No explanation on how the 5345 ended up with a bright ... (more)

A pair of GE motors are in full dynamic, controlling the westward progress of a UP coal load descending the 1.97% grade at Soldier Summit the morning of March 28, 2013. By the time the UP 7407 is ... (more)

Rio Grande coal train No. 734 roars east through Gilluly with 84 IPP coal empties bound for loading at Skyline.

While sheep graze in a nearby meadow, Amtrak's California Zephyr train No. 5 climbs west approaching Soldier Summit. My dad was with me on this railfan excursion and was sure that Amtrak and the R... (more)

Rio Grande's Helper Local glides down a relatively flat 1% grade just east of 7440 ft. Soldier Summit on Aug. 16, 1987.

A GE AC4400CW-CTE shoves on a 77 car MRONY train approaching East Gilluly on March 15, 2013. Only 10 additional miles and 1000 feet of elevation remain to reach Soldier Summit.

A 77 car MRONY squeals around the Soldier Creek fill at Gilluly on March 15, 2013. Only 10 additional miles and 1000 feet of elevation remain to reach Soldier Summit.

Brilliant sun and shadow greet Rio Grande train #187, descending the 2% through Gilluly on July 24, 1987. The train has already dropped 1010 feet in elevation since toping Soldier Summit some ten ... (more)

While evening shadows creep across the high desert landscape, Rio Grande train #151 approaches Soldier Summit.

We made it! After climbing 3000 feet of elevation in 50 miles of track, Rio Grande mixed freight #136 tops 7440 ft. Soldier Summit. The old trainorder office (used by maintenance of way employees)... (more)

While the Rio Grande was well known for heavy trains climbing steep grades with high horsepower locomotives, there were a few exceptions. On a bright June morning in 1987, the steel gang welder's ... (more)