We're at the east end of the Essex snowshed as an eastbound mixed freight stops while the helper engines (BN F9-A 810, F9-B 809 & GP9 1765) are placed in the train down at Essex proper. This is an interesting lashup with two U33C's (5712 & 5744), an SDP45 (6599) and an unknown GP38-2. It's not clear to me why the head brakeman (or fireman?) dismounted the 5712 so maybe he just wanted to stretch his legs and/or enjoy this beautiful Rocky Mountain morning? Not to be seen in this scene today (besides the locomotives) is the jointed rail, wood crossties and the pole line. Today, Mr. James J. Hill wouldn't recognize the railroad he built through here in 1890!
