In early 1984 the Rio Grande gave a number of units to the Missouri Pacific to run off horsepower hours accrued by MP run thru power on the Colorado - Moss Point coal trains. One example is this G... (more)

Three Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 Tunnel Motors push on a westbound Southern Pacific taconite ore train at Kyune, Utah, climbing the eastern grade of Soldier Summit. Passing the helpers is lone Utah Ra... (more)

Led by a pair of Rio Grande EMD GP60s, the Rio Grande Ski Train rolls eastbound through the cut at milepost 23 east of Plainview, Colorado, on June 17, 2000.

Rio Grande SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor Nos. 5354, 5349 and 5371 power the westbound Union Pacific “dirt train” local past the stately cliffs just west of Maxwell, Utah, as the train approaches its ho... (more)

A quartet of Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 Tunnel Motors power Union Pacific’s LJP45 “dirt train” past mile 607.4 east of Wash, Utah, on February 4, 2003. The train is hauling contaminated dirt and... (more)

An eastbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight is tucked in Cliff siding at Pinecliffe, Colorado, for the westbound Rio Grande Ski Train led by Rio Grande GP60 No. 3154 on the morning of Decemb... (more)

A rising sun is filtered in thin clouds as the westbound Rio Grande Ski Train climbs upgrade out of Leyden, Colorado, on December 30, 2000. Leading the train this morning is Rio Grande EMD GP60 No... (more)

The Rio Grande Ski Train curves out of Tunnel 29 east of Pinecliffe, Colorado, on the afternoon of June 17, 2000. This summer edition of the train operating a round trip from Denver to Winter Park... (more)

Weathered warriors
Rio Grande EMD GP40-2 No. 3097 and Southern Pacific GE AC4400CW No. 105 rest at Grand Junction, Colorado, on June 25, 2002. Both are weathered, worn, dirty, and have ... (more)

Rio Grande EMD GP40-2 Nos. 3109 and 3105 switch cars at Union Pacific’s yard at La Salle, Colorado, on July 6, 2005. After UP’s merger of Southern Pacific and Rio Grande, the merged railroad�... (more)

Clipping through Kobe
Rio Grande EMD GP40-2 No. 3107 leads the Malta Turn through Kobe, Colorado, on March 8, 1999, on the last run of the local to Malta by Union Pacific. Interesting h... (more)

One of the huge losses insofar as scenic lines was the Rio Grande route via Tennessee Pass that carried just enough traffic to keep things interesting. I was working as relief agent at Minturn and... (more)

A rugged section of track between Crater and Volcano, Colorado, on Rio Grande’s Craig Branch is illustrated with this tight loop of track negotiated within Rock Creek Canyon. With the latter hal... (more)

Rio Grande caboose No. 01425 trails the Potash Local westbound over Thompson Hill just east of Thompson, Utah in July 1984. The car has recently had its side windows skillfully plugged by the car ... (more)

Rio Grande EMD GP40-2 Nos. 3125 and 3117 power the Potash Local westbound over Thompson Hill just east of Thompson, Utah, in July 1984. The four idler flat cars between the three tank cars, along ... (more)