FMI 59 pulls a second train up out of Clifton as it passes the old rip track just outside of town. If I'm not mistaken, every paint scheme on the FMI is represented here.

A heavy FMI train battles the big hill into Morenci with the FMI 59 leading. In the background is the town of Clifton where the AZER interchange is.

FMI 57 sits in Clifton waiting for the first Arizona Eastern train to interchange with. The 57 is still in the old Phelps-Dodge scheme. Phelps-Dodge owned the railroad until 2007 when it was bough... (more)

The FMI's first train down to Clifton heads south leaving behind the big mine in Morenci behind. The mine is an open pit copper mining complex and has been continuously operating since 1939.

FMI 9 pulls its first train of the day out of Morenci for the Arizona Eastern interchange in Clifton. The 9 is honoring the Morenci 9, a group of nine young men from Morenci that were sent off to ... (more)

52, 55, 53, 57 & 59 approach the Clifton interchange with a train from the Morenci mine

One of the more unique operations I've found over the years. It will test your mettle time and again, but reward you in abundance. Especially on the return up the hill from Clifton.

Wearing the "Think Pink" logo, #53 leads the first cut of cars down the hill out of the Morenci mine to Clifton for AZER. This can happen up to three times a day depending on traffic.

Screamin' 51! Former Phelps Dodge 51 built in 1967 screams up the 4-5% grade at Corral Cut. The locomotive has dust filters making for a very unique tribute to the past Phelps Dodge Flee... (more)

Freeport McMoran 55 screams up the steepest section of the climb for Morenci, AZ. The GP38-2 wearing the colors of Phelps Dodge Mining is blasting thru Corral Cut where the 3-5% grade abruptly ch... (more)

A long hill turn of mostly empties gondolas for copper concentrate climbs a the first section of 3+% section of grade towards the massive Freeport McMoran Copper Complex in the far upper left of t... (more)

CRAZY Steep Non Compensated Grade! Blasting up a desert mountain at walking speed with 5 Geeps and 22 loads of sulphur and acid! I have done some research to figure out just how steep this... (more)

A Freeport McMoran Hill Turn slides down the steep grade between Corral Cut and Clifton. The grade here varies between 3.5-4.2%, when compensated for curvature the grade is a equivalent to almost ... (more)

10,000 Horsepower 3100 Tons! The 2nd run up the 4%+ Shannon Hill is down to its knees as it approaches the big cut near the Morenci Corrals. The lead GP38-2 was built in 3/76 and is wea... (more)

The first of two Hill jobs on this October morning drops down the 4.5%+ slide above the site of the former Shannon Smelter. Earlier in the morning the job switched the Acid tracks at the massive ... (more)