Empty Unit Coal Train from the Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI heads west across the Black River with a new GEVO in the lead.

Empty Unit Coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI enters North La Crosse as it tries to keep ahead of Amtrak #7.

Empty Unit Coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI makes its way west towards La Crosse, WI. How can the door be so clean when the rest of the engine is so dirty?

Empty Unit Coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI heads west towards the Mississippi River Valley in the late evening light.

Empty Unit Coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI passes a river boat on the Mississippi River as the train heads back to the BNSF at St. Paul, MN.

Empty Unit Coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI works its way back to the BNSF at St. Paul, MN.

Empty Unit Coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI works its way back to the BNSF at St. Paul, MN.

Empty Unit Coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI making its way along the Mississippi River on its trip back to the BNSF at St. Paul, MN. (Canon EOS20D, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM)

Empty Unit Coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI makes its way back to the BNSF. (Canon EOS20D, 16-35mm f/2.8L USM)

Empty Unit Coal Train from the Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI crosses the Black River on its trip back west. (Canon EOS20D, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM)

This CP coal train glides through a severe blizzard. The snow is so heavy that it has broken branches and downed power lines.

Empty coal hoppers cycle back west for another load. This train serves the Columbia generating plant near Portage and is handed back to the BNSF in the Twin Cities.

As the ice floats down the Mississippi River during the first cold weather of the season, the empty coal train from the Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI heads towards St. Paul. (Canon EOS20D... (more)

Empty Unit coal Train from Columbia Power Plant near Portage, WI heads north towards St. Paul, MN. (Canon EOS20D, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM)