High atop Spruce Mtn. we observe another coal load making its way up the grade to Palmer lake.

Pushing hard on the end of a loaded coal train bound for the Nixon Power Facility south of Fountain CO. The lead units can be seen above the train on the left.

Like thousands of times before, two coal trains meet just north of Palmer Lake. Now that this coal empty has conquered the grade coming north, it can coast into Denver with ease. But the UP coal l... (more)

another BNSF southbound coal load was climbing out of Greenland, CO running south on the normal northbound main #2 due to tie replacement on the normal southbound main #1 in beautiful afternoon su... (more)

A pair of visiting Southern Belles waits patiently in The Sag while MoW is working away at the north end of the single track in Palmer Lake. These units brought out the local rail paparazzi who s... (more)

It was a beautiful clear morning in CO as another northbound BNSF coal empty is approaching Greenland, CO on the joint UP BNSF Joint Line main #2 of the Pikes Peak Sub as a southbound UP coal load... (more)

a southbound Rio Grande MP run through coal train struggles though Spruce, CO as two of the five motors on the head end have run out of fuel on the climb from Denver to Palmer Lake. An additional ... (more)

"So we're gonna be here awhile..." Not really a question but more of a statement from the crew of BNSF 717 to the dispatcher. They had about two more hours to wait here at The Sag before ... (more)

Well-stressed traction motors smoke as two GEVOs take a breather as they breifly head downgrade into "The Sag" just north of Palmer Lake.

Southbound BNSF coal train Spruce, CO

Older AC power put the horses to work as they drag loaded coal up the Palmer Divide. This train would stop and wait in The Sag for a northbound to clear off of the single-track main between Palme... (more)

DPUs on a southbound AMTX coal train earn their keep as they assist the train up the Palmer Divide. A good profile comparison between GE's ES44AC and EMD's SD70ACe.

BNSF 6164 leads a pair of MACs northbound with empty hoppers destined for the mines while coal loads struggle to make it up the grade in the foreground.

BNSF 5917 slowly leads loaded coal south through Spruce. After cresting the Palmer Divide, this train's B unit malfunctioned and the crew had to stop between the switches in Monument, thus becomi... (more)

Loaded coal strains through the Greenland Open Space as it ascends the grade toward the Palmer Divide. It only takes a small hike to get this view, but Spruce Mountain is probably the best spot a... (more)