The sun peaks out of the clouds and catches a single BNSF ACe unit pulling a long train of empty windmill tower flat cars through The Sag north of Palmer Lake.

After being sidelined for 11 hours in the snow and frigid cold due to a mechanical issue, BNSF 9166 (SD70ACe) heads through the S curves in the section known as The Sag which is just north of Palm... (more)

Tom Golden photo.

Tom Golden photo.

BNSF 4009 (Dash 9) leads a freight towards Palmer Lake, Colorado on the Joint Line.

The first train of the day has BNSF 8157 (ES44C4) leading an oil can train through Palmer Lake, Colorado.

BNSF 4009 (Dash) leads a freight into the S Curve at The Sag just north of Palmer Lake, Colorado.

The Smell of Fresh Paint

I can still smell the paint curing as 6017 the 25th Anniversary BNSF Heritage locomotive passes me south of Spruce.

UP 8897 (SD70AH) leads a freight through the green foothills of Palmer Lake on the Joint Line.

BNSF SD70ACe #9126 leading train E-HAFWTM0-11 at Palmer Lake, CO 9/21/18.

BNSF 6135 (ES44AC) shoves a loaded coal train through Palmer Lake, Colorado, past people taking advantage of the cool water on a hot summer day.

BNSF 9314 leads six other motors, including two CP GEs, south with cement empties on the Colorado Joint Line, as 14,259 ft. Longs Peak looms in the background.

Elephant ACes lead a coal load out of the south end of Littleton, Colorado as the summer foliage starts to show its color.

A southbound coal load approaches the crest of the Palmer Divide on the Colorado Joint Line as a light snow begins to fall.

A BNSF southbound manifest is in full dramatic storm light from a break in between the HPC’s (high precipitation cell). BNSF 8347 is about to roll forward after waiting at Spruce on the Colorado J... (more)