A loaded coal train climbs the west slop of Crawford Hill

1713 : BNSF E SLCBKM1 52 [Coal Empties; North St. Louis, MO to Buckskin Mine, WY] 138 gons PSTX/PSJX BNSF 8927 (SD70MAC) BNSF 6114 (ES44AC) -train- BNSF 9348 (SD70ACe) BNSF 8821 (SD70MAC)

The engineer has the dyno's whining keeping this train under control. A pair of ES44AC's (one on the rear), and a SD70MAC keep the train under 20mph.

Two SD70's pull PNJX/PSTX loads up through Crawford Hill

On this day, a Crawford Hill helper set is returning downgrade to back to Crawford to await their next assignment. I have noticed the scorched appearance of the decal stripes is typical of many S... (more)

The setting sun turns the two rear DPU's and the 3 unit Crawford helper set gold as they round the curve towards Ponderosa Ranch.

With visible evidence of the strain rising into the air, a pair of MAC's and a pair of GEVO's fight the curvature and gravity rounding Breezy Point. Very unusually all the power is on the front en... (more)

The rear DPU's trail coal empties rounding the aptly named Breezy Point descending the escarpment from Belmont.

Rush hour on Crawford Hill! A rolling meet on the lower horseshoe sees ES44AC 6210 lead a coal loads uphill as the daily manifest heads downhill. The latter is about the only variety from the proc... (more)

A pair of former Burlington Northern SD60M's and a former ATSF SD75M push coal loads up Crawford Hill, the headend wrapped around one Horseshoe curve and the rear just exiting the first. Two GE AC... (more)

Shadows are heading for the track as the sun heads for the horizon. SD60M 9215 and SD75M's 8217 and 8279 assist another coal loads, their second trip up the hill in 90 minutes as a flood of traffi... (more)

With a pair of GEVO's up front and another pair on the rear for a combined 17,600hp, a pair of SD75M's and a single SD60M add an additional 11,600hp to assist these coal loads up the Crawford Hill... (more)

The setting sun turns a Crawford helper set gold as they return to base after assisting another coal train as far as Belmont. The pair of former Santa Fe SD75M's and BN SD60M were representative o... (more)

The late afternoon shadows are creeping towards the tracks as a loaded coal approaches the first horseshoe curve on the climb of Crawford Hill. I can highly recommend a stay at the Ponderosa Ranch... (more)

A trains heading up and down the hill at the same time is a very common occurence here.