Minutes after the sun went away, running over eight and a half hours late, Amtrak #5, the California Zephyr climbs the 2% grade through Coal Creek Canyon up towards Tunnel #1.

Camas Prairie’s regular run to Grangeville crosses Hwy. 95 near Nucrag, Idaho as it climbs out of Lapwai canyon on Aug. 15, 1977. The rear of the train can be seen under the 1765, third unit.

On a warm fall afternoon a leased trio of MRL 45's leads a BNSF train bound for Washington through the beautiful Montana countryside.

The long ascent of Marias Pass is almost completed as BNSF 4302 East labors the final mile to the summit amidst lingering patches of snow from a late summer cold front.

Right before the sun ducks behind the mountains for the day, Union Pacific no. 5595 brings up the rear of this Midlothian, TX coal load at the east end of the siding at Pinecliffe.

BNSF 9859 rolls a loaded coal train west across the causeway west of Trout Creek on the Montana Rail Link as the sun pops out of the clouds just prior to sunset. A nice way to end a cloudy day of ... (more)

The day gas is rolling back to Missoula along the scenic 10th Sub.

Montana Rail Link's Silver Cloud business train crosses Skyline Trestle on its way down Mullan Pass in to Helena

Hustling West, two SD70ACe's have a short L-M in tow passing some Fall color along the Little Blackfoot River.

An eastbound BNSF coal train passes the tranquil waters of Frog Pond west of Trout Creek, Montana, on September 27, 2013.

Amtrak No. 6, the eastbound California Zephyr, cruises downgrade through Clay, Colorado, on the afternoon of August 18, 2010. Waiting down below at Rocky siding for the passenger train’s passing... (more)

As the late afternoon sunshine continues to get lower behind the mountains, a West Elk Mine, CO to Midlothian, TX loaded coal train eases down the grade approaching the CO-HWY 72 crossing in Pinec... (more)

A two hour late Amtrak #6 races out of Tunnel #29 in the tunnel district after meeting a westbound manifest at Pinecliffe.

After meeting an eastbound at Austin, CP 8844 West begins the assault upon Mullan Pass in earnest. Power appears sparse for a loaded grain train on 2.2% grade, however, there are four MRL SD-70ACe... (more)

There's frost on the crossties as BNSF 6747 East heads into the rising sun while negotiating the tight arc at Austin, MT on a September morn. The manifest is on the siding as Austin is a frequent ... (more)