Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 “Tunnel Motor” No. 5401 is on the point of Union Pacific’s Denver to Salt Lake City manifest Freight on April 2, 2001. It is working its way past the east end of Cliff... (more)

While the engineer remains at the throttle of Rio Grande 5401 East, two other crewmen inspect the power. The manifest has just passed the west end of Gilluly, where curvature and a steep grade put... (more)

Union Pacific's LJP45 "dirt train" local passes through Spring Glen, UT with a string of empties in tow. In a few moments the train will arrive back in the yard at Helper. Powering the... (more)

The end of an era, at lease for me. D&RGW 5401, 5385, 5361 near the Roper terminal with the Denver to Salt Lake manifest. This would be my last time ever seeing a pure set of Rio Grande run the wh... (more)

I am really glad I was turned onto this era that the UP went thru in early 2000's. Helper Utah seemed to be the holding ground for the last life of the Rio Grande tunnel motors. The main attracti... (more)

After helping a 97 car MDVRO manifest freight from Helper to Soldier Summit, a quartet of Rio Grande tunnel motors drift through Castle Gate on Aug. 19, 2000. In the background is Utah Power & Lig... (more)

D&RGW leads a freight along Hwy 6 near Colton Utah.

Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor No. 5401 leads Union Pacific’s MDVRO (Denver to Salt Lake City) manifest freight rumbling through Crescent, Colorado, on April 2, 2001. This locomotive has be... (more)

Union Pacific’s MDVRO (Denver to Salt Lake City) manifest freight exits Tunnel 1 on the approach to Plainview, Colorado, on April 25, 2001. Leading the freight is Rio Grande SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor... (more)

Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 No. 5401 leads Union Pacific’s MDVRO (Denver to Salt Lake City) manifest freight at East Portal, Colorado, on April 2, 2001.

A three pack of Rio Grande SD40T-2s lead the Dirt Train local across the Grassy Trail Creek bridge on the way to Columbia Junction near East Carbon City.

On May 24, 2002, in a vista just east of Wash, Utah, a quartet of Rio Grande Tunnel Motors cross a bridge over the Price River and enter Wellington Canyon. The eastbound “dirt train” (contamin... (more)

Photographed on Kodachrome 25 slide film a few minutes before sun down, Rio Grande ballast train #772 climbs east along the Mapleton Bench approaching Sutro. D&RGW SD40T-2 #5401 (blt. Mar. 1980) w... (more)

Rio Grande Tunnel Motor No. 5401 leads Union Pacific freight MDVRO at Rollins, Colorado, on October 15, 2001. The power included 7 AC4400CWs in both UP and SP varieties and maybe the reason 5401 w... (more)

DRGW 5401 leads the helper set as it eases back to Minturn. The helpers are crossing the Eagle River at the east end of Belden, near the town of Red Cliff on a glorious fall day. Nothing could bea... (more)