A battered veteran of mountain railroading climbs Tennessee Pass. While the coal trains got the new AC4400s, drag freights got whatever could be thrown together. On this train a mixed lash-up of... (more)

WC6598 SD45 leads a eastbound at Malta. Wisconsin Central units were common on the Southern Pacific in the mid-90s because of the huge ore contract the two railroads shared for Geneva Steel.

A stormy afternoon on Tennessee Pass, sees this westbound with a long snoot Southern Pacific tunnel motor in the lead. This train had 3 SD40T-2 and a SD40 for its trip to Grand Junction.

It appears one of the locomotives in the 1st swing help has developed teething problems on the 3% above Pando. Two crew members have the doors open trouble shooting a problem on the second motor. ... (more)

SP8672 MK rebuild SD45 and a string of other 2nd generation motors lift a train into Pando. The grade here eases to 1% (flat by Tennessee Pass standards) and the train will pick up considerable sp... (more)

Three new AC4400 locomotives thunder out of Belden canyon towards Red Cliff. The grade here is 2.3-2.4%. By the time the rear of train passes, the head-end will be fighting a 3% grade and 12 degr... (more)

First light as three new AC4400s lead a coal train on the approach to Tennessee pass Tunnel. The AC4400s were delivered to the Southern Pacific from 1995-1996. By mid 1995 most coal trains on the ... (more)

In another view of SP9197 east, a couple of Whitewater Building Materials Corp. of Grand Junction, Colorado hoppers are in the foreground of this picture. The cars are notable in that Trainworx r... (more)

SD45T-2 SP9197 leads 2 more tunnel motors and a GP40-2 thru the Mitchell Curves. The new coat of paint on the leader is already covered in a layer of tunnel grime. The big 20 cylinder SP9197 was... (more)

"Bran-New" Southern Pacific 210 marches up Tennessee Pass below Pando. This section of grade between Red Cliff and Pando has tight 12 degree curves making it, like the rest of Tennessee Pass, a t... (more)

Two SD45 locomotives lead a westbound manifest down Tennessee Pass. Running trains down a grade this steep took great skill... The engineers that ran trains over Tennessee Pass, that have not ret... (more)

A westbound Southern Pacific freight exits Tennessee Pass tunnel. It was common to set air in the tunnel then pull the train out of the portal onto the 3% grade. This set of air insured the brake... (more)

Union Pacific gives its tribute to Tennessee Pass. The 844 lead this passenger excursion up the Canyons of Arkansas River on the former Rio Grande's Tennessee Pass Line.

SP141, still looking fresh and clean, leads an eastbound coal load up the 3% at Mitchell, CO. SP173 is the second motor and looks as if it has taken a few more trips over the Moffat with its dirt... (more)

An eastbound Southern Pacific unit coal train of CTRN hoppers claws up Tennessee Pass in the canyon between Red Cliff and Pando, Colorado, on the afternoon of September 4, 1995. The SP GE AC4400CW... (more)