Steam and the Sierras

It's a long hard climb from the valley floor up to Gold Hill. One could watch a train for nearly an hour as it struggles with the grade. And who could im... (more)

Gondolas Through the Desert: Just south of Las Vegas, Nevada, two SD70ACe locomotives bring a train of empty gondola cars across the Mojave Desert.

During the construction of the glorious Reno Trench, the UP main was detoured to the East side of the depot down Commercial St. Until 1950, the east side of the depot had been the depot access for... (more)

Blasting out of Tunnel 1 on the Nevada Northern's Keystone Branch, NNRY No. 93 puts on a show as it leads a recreation of a wrecking train back toward Ely to the delight of photographers trackside... (more)

This is the most reliable daylight train on the Union Pacific’s Shafter Sub.; the MRORV. The only other reliable trains are Amtrak #5 and #6, but they both pass here in the middle of the night. ... (more)

Arnolds Loop in Nevada; a lower view. Most photos taken in the area of Arnolds Loop, including mine, are taken from above the tracks. This allows a view of the loop itself and out across the broad... (more)

UP 7853 east in Cliffside siding is waiting for UP 6803 west to lug it’s manifest train, the MRORV-07, up the 1% grade of Silver Zone Pass in eastern Nevada. The conductor is on the ground givin... (more)

Westbound Carlin Local passing thru Winnemucca with GO40-2 #7626 and a former commute GP4OP-2-P

Nevada Northern #40 has her ashes dumped at the end of another day of trips.

High-stepping up the Keystone Branch with a clean stack, #40 leads the Steptoe Valley Flyer over Gleason Creek.

Barking out of Tunnel 1, Number 40 is bound for Keystone with the Steptoe Valley Flyer.

A View From Above- As seen from the top of the concrete coaling tower that dominates the Ely skyline, Nevada's Official State Steam Locomotive makes its way back to the west end of the yard... (more)

The Steptoe Valley Flyer, led by Nevada Northern No. 40 and featuring its historic consist, makes easy work of the grade up Robinson Canyon.

The westward Reno Fun Train picking up passengers at the Reno Depot

As the sun begins to set on the hills beyond Blue Mountain, an eastbound manifest roars across the high desert of northern Nevada.