The power for Union Pacific’s LJP45 “dirt train” local out of Helper, Utah, sits near the locomotive facility on the cold night of December 1, 2004.

Engineer Mel Baughman pauses outside the depot at Helper, Utah, with Rio Grande SD40T-2 “Tunnel Motors” sitting in the yard behind him on October 5, 2004. Mel was born in Rifle, Colorado, on Novem... (more)

Swinging through the “S” curve at Mounds, Utah, is Union Pacific’s LJP45 local nearing the approach signal for the junction with the main line a trip back Helper on February 5, 2004. Rio Grande EM... (more)

Three Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 Tunnel Motors head eastbound through Castilla with a short “dirt train” picked up at Sutro on the west side of the Soldier Summit grade. With only five unpatched/unren... (more)

The Chicago to LA intermodal train is about to pass the Amtrak depot in Galesburg on the BN side. The SP had trackage rights over the BN back in 1994 from KC to Chicago. After the BNSF the SP star... (more)

Union Pacific MDVRO (Denver to Roper Yard in Salt Lake City) freight leaves the great plains behind as it curves out of Clay, Colorado, on April 18, 2001. Eight locomotives power the westbound tra... (more)

The effects of water on desert landscapes is evident in this vista of the eastbound Union Pacific LJP45 “dirt train” local at West Mounds, Utah, on April 6, 2005. A pair of Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2s... (more)

Thunderstorms gather over the Book Cliffs to the north as three Rio Grande Tunnel Motors put their train together at the ECDC landfill at East Carbon, Utah, on October 5, 2004. This local train (L... (more)

With the Rio Grande 'Gang of Four' on the point, UP's LJP45 local rolls through D&RGW's 1945 'Farnham Line Change' east of Wellington on April 11, 2003. The track realignment required a new crossi... (more)

A six-pack of Rio Grande SD40T-2s drift through Helper Yard prior to cutting into a 100 car coal train for the steep climb to Soldier Summit. In the group are DRGW 5390, DRGW 5342, DRGW 5373, DRGW... (more)

With the emerald colors of spring sprouting in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, three Rio Grande Tunnel Motors head eastbound through Castilla with a “dirt train” picked up at Sutro on the west side... (more)

Eastbound Union Pacific “dirt train” LJP45 local pours it on approaching Mounds, Utah, on May 4, 2004. Many times as the train approached our location, regular engineer Mel Baughman would spot us ... (more)

Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 Nos. 5390, 5377 and 5401 power the westbound LJP45 “dirt train” just east of Mounds, Utah, on the Sunnyside Branch on May 22, 2002.

Clearing a slow order east of Wash, Utah, westbound Union Pacific LJP45 “dirt train” powered by three Rio Grande SD40T-2s belches black smoke crossing Bridge 607.46 on October 8, 2004.

Powered by four Rio Grande Tunnel Motors, Union Pacific’s LJP45 “dirt train” departs Wellington Canyon and heads eastbound into the desert east of Wash, Utah, on July 27, 2002.