The small town of Helper, UT located about 110 miles southeast of Salt Lake City was named for the extra engines based here to help trains up the D&RGW’s steep mountain grade to Soldier Summit. ... (more)

I happened to be in Moab, UT when a friend reminded me that the once a week UP potash local runs on a Friday, wait thats today! All my previous plans for the day were now pushed to the side as I h... (more)

2 sets of helper power await the next call to help at, not coincidentally, Helper UT. The town of Helper rests at the bottom of Soldier Summit on the former D&RGW and was aptly named as the basec... (more)

A UP empty hopper train rolls down Soldier pass with the towering Castle Gate rock guarding the mouth of Price Canyon in the background.

Ghosts of Lombard.
With a full harvest moon, a MRL manifest passes through Lombard, MT. Originally founded in the 1890s, Lombard, MT, the iconic location where the Milwaukee Road’s bridge o... (more)

An early morning grain train greets sunrise as it begins its assault on Mullan Pass on the MRL.

MRL's tribute to essential workers leads the LM across the Austin Creek trestle.

2 sets of helpers, a total of 8 units, pass an empty stack train as they drift downgrade on their way back to stage at Helena. There they will wait for the next westbound to provide a shove over M... (more)

An loaded hopper train makes a run at Bozeman pass, grinding out of the tunnel in the last glow of evening light.

An empty hopper train makes a run at Bozeman pass, heading upgrade past Chestnut mountain and headed towards the tunnel.

The Lakes States Railway has a remote job that services a handful of customers near the lakeshore in Port Huron, MI. In this shot Looking north, you can see Canada on the right and the Blue Wate... (more)

Railroading is serious business. But thank goodness for regional operations that can provide safe service and has an appreciation for a sense of humor. The shop forces in Owosso take excellent ca... (more)

The Blue Water makes a quick stop in Durand, MI while making its daily run between Chicago and Port Huron.

A pair of Great Lakes Central GP35s drift across the Muskegon river in Temple, MI. It was great to see these vintage geeps still running on the same rails since their delivery in 1964.

A pair of Great Lakes Central GP35s race south through the cornfields across lower Michigan on a hazy summer day. It was great to see these vintage geeps still running on the same rails since thei... (more)