An empty BNSF coal train negotiates the southern end of the Jointline during the last rays of sun light.

A loaded coal train heads east for a bit at South Colorado Springs before turning south again en route to points south. This is another spot to capture Pikes Peak and a train.

An empty BNSF coal train with plenty of power hustles north through Colorado Springs en route to the Powder River Coal Basin. There are numerous spots within Colorado Springs where one can combine... (more)

A coal empty rolls south through a winter setting at Nickerson.

A fresh (2013) ACe leads a coal empty through the siding at Nickerson under Code Blue conditions.

A relatively short but steep hike will get you this unique perspective of Palmer Lake. A northbound has just crested the summit at Palmer Lake while a loaded southbound sits in the Sag waiting for... (more)

Coal empties from Superior (WI) head back to the Powder River Basin in moderate snow.

On a cloudy day the blue/white paint scheme of a trio of Oakway Leasing SD60s looks pretty good as they wind a coal empty through Arvada, WY on their way back to the PRB for another load. I sure m... (more)

BNSF 8800 crests the top of the hill at Palmer Lake as seen from the top of Ben Lohman mountain. The view from here is quite incredible and I wish I would have had time to shoot a few more trains ... (more)

BNSF 8800 crests the top of the hill at Palmer Lake as seen from the top of Ben Lohman mountain. Unfortunately I would only get one train from here as after waiting a couple of hours for this trai... (more)

The Twin Peaks Subdivision is very scenic too bad because of directional running the line only sees northbound traffic. Still worth a visit to this very photogenic line.

To catch a bit of the Rio Grande after it was long ago absorbed into the UP is a rare bonus these days. A BNSF coal empty is seen crossing the former Rio Grande bridge in Larkspur, Colorado

DPR-1, a General Electric E60 built in 1983, is accelerating up to track speed as it leaves the Bonanza Power Plant in eastern Utah. This train has just finished unloading 44 cars of western Color... (more)

Colorado Springs is hopping this morning with both a northbound coal empty and a freight train rolling north. Throw in the UP and BNSF local power as well as a UP train in the Drake Power Plant. I... (more)

BNSF 5913 East cast its reflection as an empty coal train winds its way along the Clark Fork River.