Southern Pacific’s westbound KCOAF (Kansas City to Oakland Forwarder) negotiates the canyon between Pando and Red Cliff, on August 2, 1996. Two GE AC4400CW locomotives from the Minturn helper po... (more)

Southern Pacific’s RVSAM freight climbs Tennessee Pass on the morning of August 1, 1996. The eastbound train is working its way out of the canyon between Redcliff and Pando, Colorado, and is goi... (more)

A coal load tops the 3% section below Pando on Tennessee Pass. The train is struggling against multiple curves some as tight as 12 degrees at Stillwater under a steady light rain. This location w... (more)

An eastbound Southern Pacific manifest freight grinds uphill climbing Tennessee Pass and crosses the Eagle River approaching Pando, Colorado, on August 2, 1996. Not only does the train have to fig... (more)

Autoracks bend through the multiple curves as Southern Pacific’s KCOAF train eases down the steep 3 percent grade on the western slope of scenic Tennessee Pass at Pando, Colorado, on August 2, 1... (more)

Led by Southern Pacific EMD SD40T-2 No. 8249, a SP freight climbs Tennessee Pass at Pando, Colorado, on the afternoon of September 4, 1995.

Three Southern Pacific GE AC4400CWs power a westbound taconite ore train down the steep western grade of Tennessee Pass in Pando Canyon just west of the siding at Pando, Colorado, on September 4, ... (more)

Southern Pacific #246 leads a Texas Coal train through the siding at Pando, Colorado in August of 1996 on Tennessee Pass. The SP #246 was having turbo charger problems.

A westbound Southern Pacific loaded coke train (NSGVC) descends the steep west slope of Tennessee Pass at Pando, Colorado, on August 1, 1996. This is most certainly the highest elevation these two... (more)

A trio of GP40-2s have spent the day loading ballast on the Leadville Branch. The short heavy train is departing after a short stop for a meet. The train likely has retainers set, a skill that is... (more)

An eastbound Southern Pacific coal train climbs the west slope of Colorado’s Tennessee Pass at Pando on September 8, 1992. Two SP SD45T-2Rs (Nos. 6867 and 6854) are assisted by BN SD40-2 No. 812... (more)

Dropping into Pando, Colorado, on the steep 3-percent grade of Tennessee Pass is a westbound Rio Grande freight on September 8, 1992. The grade eases a bit through Pando, but will continue again l... (more)

Pando siding and the spur near Camp Hale are still tracked, as is most (all?) of the UP Tennessee Pass Line. But if this line is ever brought out of embargo, they're going to have to bring a saw.

The deep rumble and roar of 20 cylinder EMD prime movers echo off the canyon walls as the OANSF climbs a 3% grade from Pando to Tennessee Pass on Sept. 27, 1996.

SP166 leads the charge at Stillwater. The grade here abruptly changes from a knuckle breaking 3% too a 'level' 1%. 39,600 H.P. are needed to lift 13,000+ tons over the Continental Divide at Tenne... (more)