BNSF 5203 pulls a string of covered hoppers eastbound at Essex, MT at the south end of Glacier National Park. The helper and maintenance yard is to the right. Out of view to the right is the Izaak... (more)

With all three of BNSF's "heritage" paint schemes on the head end, an eastbound empty grain train heads through Essex on the Hi-Line Sub Main 1. BNSF ES44AC #5802 sports Heritage 3 color... (more)

With the shadows growing shorter as the sun rises above the surrounding mountains, Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder to Chicago rolls through Essex 13 minutes behind schedule. GE P40DC #816 and a ... (more)

Bracketed by two BNSF GEVOs, a work train heads west on Main 2 hauling old concrete ties from a work site further east.

A westbound BNSF grain train passes Amtrak’s Empire Builder making its station stop at Essex, Montana, on December 24, 2007.

West bound grain train crosses the Rockies outside of Essex, MT

A BNSF helper set consisting of two SD40-2s slowly backs toward a resting spot in the yard past the Izaak Walton Inn at Essex, Montana, on December 23, 2007. The Great Northern-inspired livery sur... (more)

BNSF EMD GP38-2 No. 2322 and GP39E No. 2940 are power for a spreader train idling the night away in Essex yard, Montana, on December 26, 2007. The train arrived at Essex a few hours before after f... (more)

During the blue hour on the eve of December 26, 2007, two BNSF helper sets sit and a spreader train sit quietly in the falling snow at Essex, Montana. Snow has pretty much buried Essex yard!

An eastbound stack train grinds up the west slope of Marias Pass on BNSF's high line. The train is exiting snow shed 10 east of Essex and Java, MT and will soon reach the summit of the pass.

American Orient Express heads west off Marias Pass after picking up a dusting of snow at summit.

A fortuitous break in thick clouds allows sun to illuminate the classic lines of this dome observation car on the rear of the American orient Express as it heads west off Marias Pass. The dome pic... (more)

Two helper sets and some snow fighting equipment sits in BNSF’s Essex yard on the night of December 27, 2007, poised to do battle with the grades of a snowy Marias Pass in Montana.

Christmas night at Essex
Two BNSF helper sets rest quietly at Essex, Montana, on December 25, 2007. No trains needing a push up Marias Pass this day means at least some railroaders are ... (more)

Christmas Eve
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy caboose (waycar in CB&Q parlance) No. 14602 glows in the gathering twilight of Christmas Eve 2007. The Izaak Walton Inn at Essex, Montana, ha... (more)