A four-unit FT set is seen near Mitchell Colorado with 54 cars and two helpers, 3615 and 3414, on August 1st 1948. Otto Perry photo, from my collection.

A westbound Southern Pacific taconite ore train begins the steep three-percent descent of Tennessee Pass as it exits the summit tunnel east of Mitchell, Colorado, on the afternoon of August 2, 199... (more)

DRGW 3105 leads an eastbound manifest up the western grade of Tennessee pass.

A westbound Rio Grande manifest drops down the western grade of Tennessee Pass. The s-curve at Mitchell was a popular photo spot, easily accessible via Highway 24.

Three new Southern Pacific AC4400CWs lead a heavy CTRN coal train through the curves at Mitchell, Colorado, climbing the 3 percent grade of Tennessee Pass east out of Minturn on the morning of Aug... (more)

An eastbound CTRN coal train grinds through the curves at Mitchell, Colorado, while climbing Tennessee Pass on August 1, 1996. DPU-equipped trains were still being tested in this era, but on this ... (more)

Climbing Tennessee Pass, the rear of a CTRN coal train gets assistance from a manned helper set while negotiating the curves at Mitchell, Colorado, on August 1, 1996. This helper set was added to ... (more)

A westbound Rio Grande freight drops down the steep 3% western grade of Tennessee Pass at Mitchell, Colorado, on July 20, 1990. Leading the train is EMD SD40T-2 “Tunnel Motor” No. 5349, which ... (more)

On September 5, 1995, a Southern Pacific coal train grinds up the steep 3% grade of Tennessee Pass at Mitchell, Colorado, in a view of “Kindig’s Curve.” On the point of this 105-car unit tra... (more)

An EMD lease unit leads empties through the curves at Mitchell on Tennessee Pass.

This is the aftermath of the November 22, 1994 taconite train runaway on Tennessee Pass. The train ran away on the 3% grade, and ended up in a pile at the bottom of the Mitchell Curves. This is a... (more)

This is the aftermath of the November 22, 1994 taconite train runaway on Tennessee Pass. The train ran away on the 3% grade, and ended up in a pile at the bottom of the Mitchell Curves. Remarkabl... (more)

Dropping down the 3% grade through the Mitchell S-curve, the dynamic brakes from Rio Grande 3122, 3075 and 3142 aren't quite enough to hold the train so the Engineer has set a heavy amount of Auto... (more)

MITCHELL CO Oct 6 1978 -- A famous location on Tennessee Pass with lots of photos taken. This is my version. Rio Grande SD40T-2 5342 takes the S curves on its way west. Web site drgw.net reports t... (more)

A Rio Grande freight howls through the curves as dynamic brakes hold back the train on the three percent grade of Tennessee Pass at Mitchell, Colorado, on July 20, 1990. SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor No. 5... (more)