A Rio Grande 144 train rounds the first eastbound horseshoe curve at Gilluly.

Early in the morning, Rio Grande 3090 East, a 144 train, climbs the grade at Chicken Hollow, UT. Note how green and strewn with wildflowers the surrounding landscape is. The rains have been good t... (more)

GP40-2 No. 3090 leads a Rio Grande 144 train as it approaches Gilluly, UT. Soon the railroad will pass under Highway 6 and head in the opposite direction as part of the "loops" the railr... (more)

Early in the morning, a Rio Grande 144 train makes its way east at The Narrows, UT, as it attacks the grade on the west side of Soldier Summit. One of the hallmarks of the Grande--at least in thes... (more)

At dusk, Rio Grande GP40-2 No. 3090 idles in the company of other EMDs. Here she'll be fueled and sanded.

A Rio Grande 144 train is about to reach the summit of the Soldier Summit grade.

Blasting out of the Tunnel at the Summit of Tennessee Pass, this Westbound freight will soon change over to heavy braking for the 3% downhill grade descent to Minturn.

Due to heavy snow accumulation along Rio Grande's Pleasant Valley Branch, a crew was called on a sunny March 6, 1983 to clear the line. Jordan Spreader X-40 (blt. 1957) is working the yard tracks ... (more)

A pair of D&RGW GP40s, 3090 and 3082, wait between helper duties at Tabernash in June 1981.

Half length #790 (50 cars) eastbound loaded coal eases out of Minturn on a snowy February day in 1982, heading by 3090, 3112, 3085, 3100, with another eight GPs as swing helper. The name "Minturn"... (more)

Eastbound #790 coal swing helpers come into view as 3090 3112 3085 and 3100 snake their way up through the snow of the Mitchell curves in February 1982.

Nineteenth century brick charcoal kiln ruins protrude through the thick snow at Tennessee Pass as eastbound coal #790 detaches its helpers before proceeding towards Pueblo behind 3090 3112 3085 an... (more)

3090 3112 3085 3100 sit at Minturn awaiting the call to split the train to insert eight helper units for the run to Tennessee Pass, in February 1982.

I was on my way to live in California, just out of college, with a secure job, a new car and seeing the Rio Grande "in the flesh" for the first time. Great start to a career.

3090 3112 3085 3100 on eastbound coal #790 have a short respite in its climb to Tennessee Pass as it runs through the relatively level track at Pando.