A loaded Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal train bends through the big horseshoe curve below Belmont, Nebraska, as it climbs Crawford Hill on July 22, 2003.

Inside Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s Alliance Diesel Shop is a group of hard-working coal-hauling EMD SD70MACs on July 21, 2003.

Being used in helper service out of Crawford, Nebraska, a set of three former Santa Fe SD75Ms (Nos. 8237, 8215 and 8250) drifts downgrade through the big horseshoe curve below Belmont on May 19, 2... (more)

A heavy coal train crawls up Crawford Hill west of Belmont, Nebraska, on July 7, 1996. Three Burlington Northern EMD SD70MACs power the train and is getting needed help from a pusher set of four C... (more)

Last train of the evening as it is already sprinkling and a down pour is just minutes away. UP 6802 is shoving on an eastbound stack train.

BN 9211 and two more SD60Ms serve as helpers on Crawford Hill in 2002. Technically BNSF, these units show no sign of the merger at this time. Here they have just finished the climb and will releas... (more)

UP 8083 leads two BNSF SD70MACs on an empty coal train headed back to the Powder River Basin for loading. The train has just crested the westbound grade at Belmont, NE and is starting its descent ... (more)

Storm light over Crawford Hill
A westbound BNSF coal empty drops downgrade between Belmont and Crawford, Nebraska, late in the afternoon of May 19, 2006.

Another day is coming to an end as a westbound BNSF coal empty heads downgrade toward a setting sun on Crawford Hill, Nebraska, on May 19, 2006.

A pair of executive MACs, BNSF 9668 & 9802, lead westbound empties headed back to the Powder River Basin.

A loaded coal train climbs through the horseshoe curve below Belmont on BNSF’s Crawford Hill as sunset approaches on September 16, 2013. Two EMD SD70MACs power the heavy train up front, while a ... (more)

Two coal trains meet at a curve near Greenwood, Nebraska.

Sunset, UP's 4 track main line at Hershey. westbound.

Sunrise, UP's 4 track main line at Hershey. westbound.

UP 6578 & 6962 are eastbound and are just beginning the journey down the Marysville sub. From my location I can still see the rear of the train on the Kearney sub.