New UP ES44AC No. 8000 leads a short MRONY train near the Thistle Tunnels of Spanish Fork Canyon on June 29, 2013.

A matched quartet of ex-Southern Pacific SD45s lead a Utah Railway coal train on the Rio Grande west of Rio on Feb. 21, 1987.

Hustle Muscle on Soldier Summit

Springtime Snow Squall on Soldier Summit

I had a rare opportunity to high rail Rio Grande's new mainline through Spanish Fork Canyon while 'Thistle Lake' was still present. A Utah Railway coal load rambles west along the shoreline of the... (more)

A Utah Railway Provo to Martin Turn cruising east through the Red Narrows of Spanish Fork Canyon on June 23, 1976.

In an unusual visit to the west slope of the Wasatch Mountains, Union Pacific’s LJP45 local exits Thistle Tunnel on the long climb to Soldier Summit on May 5, 2004. Three Rio Grande SD40T-2 “T... (more)

Under the watchful eye of 10,689 ft. Loafer Mountain, Rio Grande SD40T-2s 5347, 5406, 5383, and 5371 lead a 44 car RODVM through Spanish Fork Canyon on Feb. 8, 1997.

A Chicago & North Western C44-9W leads an IPSNC through Spanish Fork Canyon on Sept. 21, 1996.

A pair of Chicago & North Western C44-9Ws lead SP's Intermountain Power to Skyline coal empty east through Spanish Fork Canyon on Aug. 17, 1996.

After a 28 mile descent from Soldier Summit, SP's Minntac to Geneva iron ore train throttles up for a short section of level track approaching the Thistle Tunnels on August 11, 1996.

An SP Roseville to Kansas City Manifest emerges from the Thistle Tunnels with 87 cars and three SD40T-2s shoving on the rear. The Southern Pacific Railroad had a month of independence remaining un... (more)

A trio of new GE AC4400CWs lead the TASNC east through Spanish Fork Canyon with 77 coal empties to load at the Skyline mine on July 15, 1995.

Southern Pacific AC4400CWs 136 and 129 pull a 52 car RODVM through Spanish Fork Canyon on April 8, 1996. Behind the power are nine DRGW Difco air-dump gondolas scheduled to be set out in Helper Ya... (more)

The chant of EMD tunnel motors under full throttle echoes through the Red Narrows as the EUCHQ tackles Soldier Summit with 68 loads on March 9, 1996.