52, 55, 53, 57 & 59 approach the Clifton interchange with a train from the Morenci mine

One of the more unique operations I've found over the years. It will test your mettle time and again, but reward you in abundance. Especially on the return up the hill from Clifton.

Wearing the "Think Pink" logo, #53 leads the first cut of cars down the hill out of the Morenci mine to Clifton for AZER. This can happen up to three times a day depending on traffic.

Screamin' 51! Former Phelps Dodge 51 built in 1967 screams up the 4-5% grade at Corral Cut. The locomotive has dust filters making for a very unique tribute to the past Phelps Dodge Flee... (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)

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)

A Freeport McMoran Hill Turn slides down the steep grade between Corral Cut and Clifton. The grade here varies between 3.5-4.2%, when compensated for curvature the grade is a equivalent to almost ... (more)

10,000 Horsepower 3100 Tons! The 2nd run up the 4%+ Shannon Hill is down to its knees as it approaches the big cut near the Morenci Corrals. The lead GP38-2 was built in 3/76 and is wea... (more)

The first of two Hill jobs on this October morning drops down the 4.5%+ slide above the site of the former Shannon Smelter. Earlier in the morning the job switched the Acid tracks at the massive ... (more)

SCREAMER! Shannon Hill is a steep 3-5% grade in Arizona's Copper Country. Each Geep is good for approximately 550-580 tons on what is undoubtably the steepest climb in North America. Heav... (more)

The third Freeport Mcmoran Hill Turn drops down the 3-5% grade above Clifton. This is the largest copper leach facility in the world. The massive white mountain in the background is tailings from... (more)

ACID Freeport McMoran's first "Hill Turn" is pulling Shannon Hill. The 5 GP38s with the original face of the 1970's blasts up the 4.5% with 21 cars of heavy Sulfuric Acid. Tradit... (more)

Freeport McMoran's first "Hill Turn" is pulling past the depot at Clifton. The train will spend about 45 minutes filling the small yard at Clifton with cars for the Arizona & Eastern. The gorgeo... (more)

Freeport McMoran's third "Hill" turn marches up the last of the three percent grade before turning into the 4% incline. The 5 little mountain locomotives are making good speed on the hi... (more)