Moving at an astonishing 13mph, this full stack train is huffing up the grade. Moving with a bum helper unit (csx behind 744). The train will be serviced at the next stop.

Moments after the sun rose above the mountains, a westbound BNSF z-train glows as it climbs Ash Hill headed towards Barstow.

Westbound coming out of Klodike onto Ash Hill

Rolling through the brief cut just east of Ash Hill, a red and silver Dash 9 leads an eastbound manifest across the Needles Sub on a cool April morning.

BNSF's Cadiz Turn is steadily climbing the grade westbound as it nears the summit of Ash Hill on April 10, 2005.

Out on the Needles Sub, with the Cadiz Turn well in hand, BNSF 5415 east crests the summit of Ash Hill, on the morning of April 10, 2005.

With one of the many basalt cinder cones that dot the Mojave sitting in the distance, 4844 West climbs the eastern slope of Ash Hill.

BNSF 4772 a westbound Hotshot goes the wrong way on Main #2 passing BNSF 4437.

A pair of helpers race down the hill to assist a train approaching Ash Hill

As a westbound unit grain train grinds up Track 1 toward Squaw Summit, an eastbound intermodal swings around the corner on Main 2 coming off Ash Hill.

Santa Fe 505 East climbs the western slope of Ash Hill toward Squaw Summit.

Three trains--a unit grain train and two double-stacks--converge on the east side of Ash Hill as the westbounds wait for trains ahead to clear.

Rolling back to parallel tracks this westbound has almost reached the top of Ash Hill.

A pair of DPUs push hard on the rear of a unit grain train to lift it over Ash Hill.

BNSF Eastbound Doublestack Train at Ash Hill, Ca. on BNSF'S Needles Sub