Prior to the BNSF, BN regularly used helpers on Stevens Pass. In the mid-1980s crews were protected by these BioPaks, one per crew member. Helpers were cut in near the rear or on the back of train... (more)

SOO 2201B and GP35 722 (the only Alco truck equipped GP35 Soo received) have arrived in Manitowoc from Neenah with the boat train for the C&O and Ann Arbor car ferry connections at Manitowoc. Note... (more)

CNW class U30C no. 930 revs up for a move into a freight consist for a train heading west out of Altoona on a crisp January day in 1978. CNW had 7 big U boats and was not fond of them. One was wre... (more)

Wisconsin Great Northern has begun work on the restoration of its recently acquired Mark Train Zephyr, originally constructed in 1934 for the Burlington Railroad. The shovel nose cab unit is named... (more)

A BN helper set idles at Skykomish on a rare sunny February day. This was a typical consist in 1975 with BN GP9 1794 (x-GN 721), F9B 803 (x-NP 7000C), and BN 1799 (x-GN 726). This power will soon ... (more)

UP GP9 No. 139 accelerates west from Huntington, Ore. with a work train on UP's mainline through the Blue Mountains. Note the jointed rail still in use on this busy line in 1979.

Based on looking at a CNW diesel roster, this odd ball unit started out as a 6 axle Baldwin road switcher about 1951. It was re-engined be EMD in the late 50s, receiving what appears to be a GP18 ... (more)

BN 5499, one of only three B32-8s on the railroad rolls up to the signal at Edmonds, WA. The Great Northern double tracked most of its mainline between Seattle and Everett, but left three short si... (more)

I was fortunate to visit the Cisco bridge prior to its fire. Here a CP train heads east under the CN bridge after crossing the Fraser River on its own bridge. The CN Cisco bridge suffered a fire a... (more)

A BNSF grain train loaded with corn from St. Cloud, MN to Kalama, WA derailed in front of one of the most photographed barns in rail photography about 6 AM May 1, 2017. 23 cars left the tracks wit... (more)

Let it snow! Just after being re-assigned to CNW's Cleveland sales office, I ventured over to see the famous former NYC Collinwood facilities. I was rewarded with an eclectic group of pre-Conrail ... (more)

UP turbines 14 & 16 A units are parked at Salt Lake City near the Union Pacific station. No. 14 was built in March 1960 and No. 16 was built in June 1960. Both were retired in February 1970 after ... (more)

Three year old FP45s nos. 3 and 1 pair up in their second color scheme and new assignment: freight service. Purchased for Hiawatha passenger service the units were delivered in UP yellow, but were... (more)

CR 6764 is former Reading Lines no. 5311, an Alco C630 locomotive in the deadline at Collinwood Yard, Cleveland, Ohio, in January 1981. Former Southern Ry. president Stanley Crane is now at the he... (more)

One of the classic spots to see locomotives in Duluth was at NP's Rice's Point Yard roundhouse. Of the few visits I was able to make there, this has to be my favorite shot, with GP9s, Alco RS11s a... (more)