Built for Battle This westbound Soda Ash train was built in Pocatello to battle the grades of the Pacific Northwest. The train left the Wyoming Soda Mines 2x1. In Pocatello the train adde... (more)

Westbound stack train at Durkee, Oregon

The long train of Wyoming soda ash is climbing around the Durkee Loop. The loop is located on east slope of Encina Hill and is at the beginning of the 2.2% grade portion of the Hill. Eight big AC... (more)

A mixed freight descends Encina hill with a pair of AC4400CW's on the rear.

Eastbound train Durkee in Eastern Oregon.

Mid train DPU's shove hard with the rear DPU across the Valley. Picture of the head-end [url]http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=554956&nseq=0[/url] Union Pacific's Durkee Loop sits... (more)

Union Pacific's Durkee Loop sits on the 2.2% climb up Encina (Hindman) Hill. The loop is also known as the Pritchard Creek Horseshoe and Leonard Curve. Leonard Curve is likely the original name wh... (more)

A brand-new heavy SD70ACE leads a manifest up the Pritchard Creek Horseshoe Curve. The steep grades between Pocatello, ID and Hinkle, OR make for some of the most challenging places to operate tr... (more)

An eastbound Union Pacific freight train drops downgrade and approaches the big horseshoe curve at Prichard Creek near Durkee, Oregon, on the afternoon of January 22, 2013.

Encina Hill in eastern Oregon is one of this railfans favorite locations. Resembling Tehachapi in many ways the twisting 2.2% climb out of the Snake River Valley is spectacular. In this view a hea... (more)

A heavy Wyoming Soda Train ascends the Pritchard Creek Horseshoe. A 2.2% Grade and Curvature test heavy westbound unit trains. This train 2x5x1, Eight massive AC locomotives make a mechanical symp... (more)

A short eastbound Union Pacific freight descends the big horseshoe curve at Prichard Creek near Durkee, Oregon, on the afternoon of January 22, 2013. Three GEs and a SD40-2 are on the point in the... (more)

A westbound Union Pacific freight train climbs through the big horseshoe curve at Prichard Creek near Durkee, Oregon, on the afternoon of January 22, 2013.

UP7490 pulls Hindman hill with a westbound intermodal in tow. The head-end of the train sits on a 1% grade while about half-way back in the photo grades drop off on a mountainous 2.2%.

UP7083 charges around the Pritchard Creek Horseshoe on a pleasant January afternoon. It is about 35 degrees and the snow is knee deep...