Powered by three EMD SD40T-2 Tunnel Motors, Rio Grande No. 5379 leads Southern Pacific’s Denver to Roper Forwarder up Thompson Hill just east of Thompson, Utah, on the afternoon of August 3, 199... (more)

Colorado's Sawatch Range "fourteeners" (mountain peaks exceeding 14,000ft.) provide a backdrop for a westbound on the Tennessee Pass Subdivision. This location is just west of Malta (Leadville) a... (more)

A pair of EMD SD40T-2s and GP40-2s pull forest products train No. 136 east through Spanish Fork Canyon on June 13, 1987.

A short Hutchinson, KS to Oakland, CA freight passes the signal at the east end of Minturn siding. Chasing this afternoon westbound was the perfect way to end a day of railfanning Tennessee Pass ... (more)

Rio Grande's Helper Local blasts off from Provo Yard after making a pickup on July 31, 1988. The well groomed track in the foreground leads to a nearby Stouffer's plant.

Rio Grande's Helper Local pulls to clear the CTC switches at Geneva prior to backing into the steel mill yard. The three EMD tunnel motors likely had sufficient power to pull eight empty freight c... (more)

We made it! After climbing 3000 feet of elevation in 50 miles of track, Rio Grande mixed freight #136 tops 7440 ft. Soldier Summit. The old trainorder office (used by maintenance of way employees)... (more)

The 1980s were a great time to observe Rio Grande mainline action on Soldier Summit. Train #136 climbs east on the westward main track at Castilla in Spanish Fork Canyon. Soon the heavy train will... (more)

It seemed fitting that one of the last trains I would see operating over Tennessee Pass was led by a Rio Grande Tunnel Motor. If I recall the events of that day correctly, AHNOA (Autos - Herringt... (more)

A lengthy Rio Grande train #136 emerges from the Thistle Tunnels on level track through Spanish Fork Canyon. Four years earlier, this right of way was under construction due to the massive mudslid... (more)

An eastbound freight behind 5379, 3041 and 5322 slides slowly into Minturn Yard to await the addition of helpers for the climb to Tennessee Pass in September 1981. During all my travels over the D... (more)

5379, 3041 and 5322 head eastbound with #148 near Salida in September 1981

A rather clean 5379 leading 3041 and 5322 whine to a stand in Minturn Yard to await the attachment of helpers for the run to Tennessee Pass in September 1981, while strange bed-fellows CN 9600 and... (more)

Thundering out of Royal Gorge in September 1981, eastbound #148, behind 5379 3041 and 5322, takes the main for a meet with a westbound slag train at Canon City, the lead engine of the slag train, ... (more)

Pueblo-bound #148 freight drops downgrade between Tennessee Pass and Leadville at Keeldar behind 5379, 3041 and 5322 in September 1981.