Grinding up the Palmer Divide.

BNSF 9182 (SD70ACe) leads a loaded coal train through Castle Rock, Colorado.

BNSF 5913 leads a northbound coal empty between Larkspur and Castle Rock, CO, on UP track. Dec 15, 2020.

BNSF 6970 (ES44C4) has solo duty as it highballs an auto rack train on the northbound track through Castle Rock, Colorado.

BNSF 6013 (ES44AC) dashes through the snow with a loaded coal train at Castle Rock, Colorado.

Castle Rock

Northbound at track speed the last light of the day still strikes the face of Castle Rock and my subject.

BNSF 6013 (ES44AC) continues the climb on the Joint Line from Sedalia to Castle Rock, Colorado, straining to pull the heavy coal train up the grade.

BNSF 8787 (SD70ACe) leads a loaded coal train through the S turn on the Joint Line in Castle Rock, Colorado.

BNSF 8787 (SD70ACe) leads a heavy coal train through the S curve in Castle Rock, Colorado. The City's namesake rock formation is in the background.

BNSF 6657 (ES44C4) leads and odd mix of power as it climbs the long uphill grade between Sedalia and Castle Rock, Colorado.

In sub-freezing temperatures, with only minutes of sunlight remaining and shadows creeping towards the tracks, BNSF 5632 (AC4400CW) pulls a loaded coal train through the stretch between Castle Roc... (more)

BNSF 5772 (ES44AC) pulls a loaded coal train through Castle Rock, Colorado. It will next hit the towns of Larkspur, Greenland and Palmer Lake before arriving in Colorado Springs.

BNSF 5772 (ES44AC) takes a loaded coal train through Castle Rock, CO on a beautiful fall day.

BNSF 9295 (SD70ACe) leads a mixed freight through the S curve in Castle Rock, Colorado.

BNSF 6017 stands out from the rest of this train as the newly painted unit leads a unit coal train south down the Joint Line.