An eastbound BNSF freight is in the clear in the siding at Rocky, Colorado, on January 19, 2002, and a man is on the ground to inspect Union Pacific’s MDVRO working west on the main line.

If a railroad knew something about operating a railroad through the mountains, not around them, it was certainly the Rio Grande. On a railroad riddled with grades and tunnels, it took a page from ... (more)

Climbing the two-percent ramp out Leyden, Colorado, under stormy skies is Union Pacific’s westbound MDVRO manifest freight on the afternoon of October 29, 1999. Six locomotives power the train, ... (more)

Early Union Pacific locomotive consists on Colorado’s former Rio Grande Moffat Tunnel line could be colorful as seen on April 2, 2001. Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 No. 5401 leads UP and Southern Pacif... (more)

Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor No. 5349 leads Union Pacific’s Denver to Salt Lake City manifest freight at Leyden, Colorado, on the eve of December 28, 2000.

Union Pacific’s MDVRO freight exits Tunnel 27 in the Tunnel District east of Pinecliffe, Colorado, on June 15, 2001. Leading the train is UP EMD SD40T-2 No. 8571, formerly Rio Grande No. 5343.

Five GE AC4400CW locomotives, a quartet still in Southern Pacific colors, lead Union Pacific’s MDVRO (Denver to Roper Yard in Salt Lake City) manifest freight out of Tunnel 16 as the train appro... (more)

Rio Grande’s first EMD SD40T-2 “Tunnel Motor,” No. 5341, leads Union Pacific’s MDVRO manifest freight westbound just west of Rollinsville, Colorado, on September 22, 1998. Trailing No. 534... (more)

Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 “Tunnel Motor” No. 5401 leads seven Union Pacific and Southern Pacific locomotives as power for UP’s Denver to Salt Lake City manifest freight into Tolland, Colorado, ... (more)

The last car passes as Union Pacific’s MDVRO works upgrade through the mouth of Coal Creek Canyon at milepost 23 east of Plainview, Colorado, on September 17, 1999. Four Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 �... (more)

A quartet of Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 “Tunnel Motors” haul Union Pacific MDVRO upgrade out of Clay, Colorado, and are about to cross Blue Mountain Drive grade crossing on the afternoon of Septem... (more)

Autumn color is ablaze on the aspens above Tolland, Colorado, as Union Pacific’s Denver to Salt Lake City manifest freight MDVRO heads west on the afternoon of October 1, 2008. Seven locomotives... (more)

Union Pacific’s Denver to Salt Lake City freight MDVRO works upgrade through golden autumn color at Tolland, Colorado, on September 29, 1998. All three former Rio Grande GP60s are in the lead, a... (more)

Leading seven Union Pacific and Southern Pacific locomotives, Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 “Tunnel Motor” No. 5401 heads Union Pacific’s Denver to Salt Lake City manifest freight into Tolland, Col... (more)

Aiming into the late evening sun on October 15, 2001, is Rio Grande “Tunnel Motor” No. 5401 leading Union Pacific freight MDVRO at Rollins, Colorado. The power included 7 AC4400CWs in both UP ... (more)