Before the last hurrah of the Rio Grande tunnel motors on the dirt train out of helper. There was a period of time that a pure set of Rio Grande tunnel motors could be found on the Salt Lake to De... (more)

On April 14, 2001, a westbound Union Pacific manifest freight is led by Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 “Tunnel Motor” No. 5345 as it pops out of the canyon into Pinecliffe, Colorado. Note that the uni... (more)

DRGW 5345 with train #749 at Edna, CO, July 27, 1977.

Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 No. 5345 leads a westbound Union Pacific manifest freight through Crescent, Colorado, on April 14, 2001.

Rolling meet at Rollins
In the aftermath of a late high country snowstorm, Union Pacific MDVRO manifest freight rumbles westward on the main, meeting an eastbound BNSF helper set at Rol... (more)

A Union Pacific freight approaches Blue Mountain Drive grade crossing west of Clay, Colorado, on April 14, 2001. Three EMD SD40T-2s and a UP GE AC4400CW power the westbound train, with Rio Grande ... (more)

Rio Grande SD40T-2s No. 5345, 5410, 5349, 5373, 5400, 5392, and 5347 are mid-train helpers cut into a Savage to Trona coal train grinding westward through the Kyune Gooseneck on Aug. 19, 2000.

The Magnificent Seven: after helping a Savage to Trona coal train to Soldier Summit, Rio Grande SD40T-2s No. 5345, 5410, 5349, 5373, 5400, 5392, and 5347 return to Helper Yard on Aug. 19, 2000.

An eastbound Rio Grande freight drops downgrade at Crystal Lakes near Malta, Colorado, early in the morning of July 10, 1985. This train is running on Rio Grande’s famed route over 10,221-foot T... (more)

The year may be 2000 and the date may be April 1st, but the presence of Rio Grande tunnel motors in Helper, Utah was no joke. D&RGW 5345 shoves on the rear of Union Pacific's Denver to Salt Lake C... (more)

On April 22, 2001, a late season snowstorm has dumped a lot of white stuff in the high country of Colorado. Just after the storm let up, Union Pacific MDVRO does a little stormin’ itself as it r... (more)

Rio Grande 5345, from D&RGW's first order for 15 SD40T-2s, leads a heavy 136 train through Spanish Fork Canyon on Sept. 26, 1987.

On August 8, 1999, Rio Grande SD40T-2s No. 5345, 5342, and 5360 were called to help a Skyline coal train from Colton to Castilla. The trio of tunnel motors emerge from the west portal of the 468 f... (more)

Rio Grande SD40T-2s No. 5345, 5401, and 5360 switch the inbound Dirt Train at Helper Yard on July 22, 1999. The small red roofed building to the right served as a waiting room with a phone for rea... (more)

Union Pacific's Helper Yard as viewed from Hill Street west of the Price River on June 19, 1999. Present in the yard are D&RGW SD40T-2s No. 5342, 5390, 5345, 5360, 5385, 5376, 5401 and 5400. By al... (more)