Desert Solitaire

On March 5, 2012, an eastbound BNSF freight traverses the scenic Utah desert between Solitude and Floy, Utah, on Union Pacific’s Green River Subdivision. A pair of GE ES44DCs bracket a newer ES4... (more)

Skirting the scenic Bookcliffs, Union Pacific’s MRONY manifest freight is between Solitude and Floy, Utah, on March 16, 2009. Motive power on the eastbound train is EMD SD70M No. 4876 leading tw... (more)

Union Pacific’s MRONY manifest freight is skirting the Bookcliffs between Solitude and Floy, Utah, on March 16, 2009. Motive power on the eastbound train is EMD SD70M No. 4876 leading two newer ... (more)

An eastbound Union Pacific coal train passes through striking desert landscape just west of Floy, Utah, on March 16, 2009. In the foreground, small desert plants struggle to survive in such a low-... (more)

Union Pacific was in the middle of changing out the old Rio Grande signals in early 2012, just west of Floy, Utah, on the Green River Subdivision. The signals at 542.7 are literary overshadowed by... (more)

Not an easy shot to get to, but well worth it.

Curving through a lunar-like landscape approaching Floy, Utah, on August 4, 1996, is Amtrak’s California Zephyr. On the point of No. 6 this day is General Electric P40DC No. 822, with an EMD F40... (more)

An eastbound coal train led by three Rio Grande Tunnel Motors curves through the stark, lunar-like landscape approaching Floy, Utah, on August 4, 1996. This is a view from a peak in the Bookcliffs... (more)

It was a hot and tiring day (the three mile hike back to the car after this picture was the worst part), but the pictures of the California Zephyr in this great lunar landscape were worth it.

Westbound D&RGW Zephyr somwhere in the desert

Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr skims along the desert floor at the foot of Utah's Book Cliffs.

Zipping though the Utah desert, eastbound "California Zephyr" has an Amtrak California unit in its consist.

The westbound California Zephyr is running somewhat late at Floy, Utah, but the passengers are enjoying a spectacular sunset over Utah's desert country.

Looking more like Mars than Earth, the eastbound California Zephyr skirts the Book Cliffs in eastern Utah. This is likely one of the most difficult spots I've ever shot. Railroad: Amtrak
Locomotive: GE P42DC
Location: Floy, Utah, USA
Locomotive #: AMTK 94
Train ID: AMTK 6
Photo Date: September 19, 2008