NP SD45 3617 leads a beer tasting train South out of Palmers on the return trip to the Duluth depot.

Originally a N&W high hood unit this one got tasteful nose job from MRL. Photo by Jim Satterwhite, from my collection.

There is often a wide variety of other railroads' power in the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard. On this day, there was power from Chicago & North Western, Cotton Belt, Denver & Rio Grande... (more)

Lost among the ridiculous number of SD40-2s were a group of much more likable units.

1991's "Susquehanna Outing" excursion has completed a run-around move in Warwick Yard and is about to head east from Pelton Road in Warwick, NY. In the years following the reopening of ... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s 840 local, the Helena local, returns from the cement plant at Montana City and is approaching East Helena, Montana on July 7, 2022. MRL EMD SD45 No. 355 and EMD GP9 No. 109 a... (more)

Rounding the famed Tehachapi Loop is an Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway piggyback train heading north to, most likely, Stockton CA based upon all the Bud of California refrigerated trailers, to... (more)

TULSA OK (April) 1985 — BN SD45 6502 lays over at the Cherokee Yard engine facility. This SD45 was delivered by EMD in June 1971 and was retired in February 1986. Wisconsin Central acquired it a... (more)

An eastbound BNSF grain train passes by on the main line while Montana Rail Link’s Helena local prepares to pick up a BNSF SD70ACe off the house track at Lombard, Montana, very late in the day o... (more)

Oh, California, America's parsidse lost, you affect us all, especially when we have lived there. We long for what you once were. Here a westbound ore train whines down Beaumont Hill for Fontana, ... (more)

OKLAHOMA CITY (May) 1982 — BN SD45 6670 awaits an assignment. EMD built the unit as SLSF 921 in February 1968. It was retired in November 1984. My photo.

TULSA OK (April) 1985 — Burlington Northern SD45 6435 awaits an assignment. EMD built the unit (s/n 31603) for the Great Northern as GN 405 in May 1966. My photo.

A westbound train of empties soars over the back road from Bluefield with an SD45-SLUG-SD45 combination in charge. Photo by Jim Satterwhite. From my collection.

A westbound train of empties is diverging from the main with a SD45-SLUG-SD45 set leading a gigantic string of empties. Photo by Jim Satterwhite.

Four formidable flares
Eighty cylinders worth of nice-looking EMD SD45s drum past with a southbound Wisconsin Central freight just north of Duplainville, Wisconsin, on a cold, wintery J... (more)