On August 2, 1996, Southern Pacific’s westbound KCOAF (Kansas City to Oakland Forwarder) has just arrived at Colorado’s scenic Tennessee Pass. Led by EMD SD40M-2 No. 8650 (still looking like a nice SD45) and two tired SD45T-2s, SP No. 9206 and SSW No. 9264, this train has reached the lofty 10,221-foot elevation of the pass. Two GE AC4400CW locomotives from the Minturn helper pool will soon arrive to help the road power with braking down the steep three percent western grade to the bottom of the hill at Minturn.
