BIG 10 SAND A westbound BNSF sand train slowly slugs its way out of the dip at Rocky and up the 2%+ grade towards Clay (Eisle). A very wet spring has turned the foothills of the Rockie... (more)

Moffat Storm Front A strong upslope Storm Front that will drop snow at higher elevations pushes a steady rain into South Draw. The empty oil train moves out of the rain falling across th... (more)

Hill Turn The third Freeport McMoran run up the mountain to Morenci leaves Clifton, Arizona. The train made up of loaded sulphur, acid & empty concentrate gondolas puts on quite a show ... (more)

Route of the Rockets Belleville was once a busy Junction between Rock Island mainlines from Kansas City, Omaha and Denver. Passenger trains and freight heading for the Rocky Mountains p... (more)

The manned Crawford helper shoves a coal load around Breezy Point with the customary sanders open and exhaust roaring! At the turn of the century 3-4 sets of manned helpers could be seen on duty ... (more)

Arizona Eastern's night job out of Lordsburg climbs the dry creek bed up Owl Canyon. Years of washouts caused many relocations and retaining walls. A 2.19% ruling grade and tight curves can chal... (more)

Arizona Eastern's morning job lifts a heavy cut of cars around the horseshoe curve after just exiting Tunnel 5 on the 2.12 percent climb out of Clifton. The train is made up of Copper concentrate ... (more)

Freeport McMoran 55 screams up the steepest section of the climb for Morenci, AZ. The GP38-2 wearing the colors of Phelps Dodge Mining is blasting thru Corral Cut where the 3-5% grade abruptly ch... (more)

A long hill turn of mostly empties gondolas for copper concentrate climbs a the first section of 3+% section of grade towards the massive Freeport McMoran Copper Complex in the far upper left of t... (more)

A long southbound Cowley Local led by a ex BN SD60m rumbles into the spectacular Sheep Canyon. A remote section of the Big Horn River cuts a slice thru Sheep Mountain exposing a Geological wonder... (more)

A Billings Coke train battles the 2.2% below Iron Ridge. The coke is often baked at high temperature into anodes that are used in the production of steel and aluminum. The Facility in Billings i... (more)

A grain train battles the 2.2% below Iron Ridge. The sight & roar of 8 big AC motors climbing the grade while sitting back in a folding chair with a beer in hand is one of my favorite ways to sp... (more)

The the granite wall of the Absarorka Mountain range towers above Bozeman Pass. The range has always made a impressive backdrop for trains climbing the 1.8% grade out of Livingston. The coal train... (more)

A morning coal load climbs Crawford Hill across old Saw Mill (Stage Coach) Road. In the distance are the Buttes that rise above Fort Robinson. The famous frontier army post has a incredible histo... (more)

CRAZY Steep Non Compensated Grade! Blasting up a desert mountain at walking speed with 5 Geeps and 22 loads of sulphur and acid! I have done some research to figure out just how steep this... (more)