This Union Pacific manifest will soon be threading thru tunnels along the distant Flatirons (upper right). Note the old corral in the foreground pasture, I wonder if it was there to witness 2-8-8... (more)

The screaming prime movers could barley be heard over the thunderous sound of the rushing water in South Boulder Creek... Spring run-off is just beginning on this late 70 degree day in April. The ... (more)

The 1.8-2% climb up Coal Creek Canyon is illustrated by this heavy westbound manifest. The head-end is stacked above the rear DPU as the train negotiates the grade and curves of the Colorado Rock... (more)

The "Charge" at Lynn Camp This is the climb for Raitt tunnel, also known as the Home Creek Grade. This ex. N&W branch lies deep in the heart of Central Appalachian Coal Country. NS8880 ... (more)

Home Creek, Virginia is the Summit of the stiff 1.77% Climb from Weller Yard to the Raitt Tunnel. The grade under the locomotives is leveling out and entering a 9 degree turn before the plunge int... (more)

For 102 years the Utah Railway has been hauling Bituminus Coal over the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. Rumor has it, the Utah Railway will stop serving Carbon County mines on January 1st of... (more)

A gritty ex.SP AC4400 leads the charge up the 2.4% ramp at Nolan, Utah on a stormy afternoon. The steep grade requires 8 big AC locomotives, all of which can be seen working hard along side High... (more)

BNSF 5497 shoulders into a heavy manifest on the approach to Tunnel One. The grade here is 1.6-2%, and is quite evident at Blue Mountain Crossing as a train climbs into the Front Range of the Roc... (more)

Union Pacific 7794 leads a heavy eastbound 116 car coal-load up the twisting 2% grade of Winter Park Hill. The train could be heard struggling out of Tabernash for 20 minutes before reaching Kings... (more)

A westbound BNSF manifest filled out with large cuts of heavy coil steel moves up the steep 2% grade in Coal Creek Canyon. The train is about to punch into Tunnel One and turn north for its cliff... (more)

A westbound coal empty glides out the spectacular Gore Canyon. The rapids in this canyon are some of the most challenging on the continent. There is only a small handful of raft companies that c... (more)

A westbound coal empty climbs the 2% grade of the Crater Loops towards the 8283ft. Toponas Summit. The name of the loops comes from the volcanic geology of the area. Nearby is a quarry that has m... (more)

An eastbound coal load drifts off the top of colorful Toponas Summit and down towards Egeria and Rock Creek Canyons. This is the third highest point on the active standard gauge freight railroad s... (more)

TENNESSEE PASS Southern Pacific AC4400 #164 claws at the 3% grade and rounds Kindig's Curve. The big GE is less than 1 year old and still has a very shiny "Rudolf" nose. A storm front is appro... (more)

A shiny BNSF 8782 lifts a manifest thru South Boulder Canyon. The train is passing the daylighted Tunnel 28, and about to enter one the tightest curves on the Moffat Road. According to a 1989 D&... (more)