Freeport McMoran GP38 #55 storms up the 5.5% grade out of Clifton, AZ with the first cut of cars for the smelter and mine. This train will climb nearly 1300 feet vertical in the next 6 miles.
Five Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold geeps begin the climb towards Morenci with 25+ cars leaving the small town of Clifton in a cloud of exhaust.
The FMI interchange job returns from the Arizona Eastern yard in Clifton with cars for the copper mine in Morenci. Leading the train up the cartoonish 4.5% grade on this branch is a GP38-2 still i... (more)
The conductor is detraining to line the runaway track switch for movement up the hill.
FMI drags Morenci bound cars up the steep grade.
This railroad is short, but sweet.
Freeport McMoRan's power works the AZER interchange.
A bunch of Freeport McMoRan's weird GPs haul a train up the grade the seems too steep to be real.
Five Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold geeps pull 25+ cars up the 4.5% grade leaving Clifton,AZ on its way back to the mine at the top of the mountain in Morenci. The conductor would then jump off th... (more)
Leaving the mine at Morenci,AZ is a quintet of Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold geeps as they descend the mountain to interchange with the AZER at Clifton located in the valley.
Locomotive #49 is seen wearing Freeport McMoran's new paint scheme as it heads down the 5% grade to interchange with the AZER.
After picking up a cut of cars from the AZER interchange, the FMI charges up the 5% hill to Morenci Mine.
FMI job makes a second run up the hill to Morenci after interchanging with the AZER.
FMI job climbs the steep 5% grade out of the interchange yard at Clifton with a good 30 cars for the top of the hill.
FMI job ties onto the rear of the inbound AZER train and will shortly be screaming up the 5% grade to the FMI yard at the top of the hill.