Dropping down the 3% grade through the Mitchell S-curve, the dynamic brakes from Rio Grande 3122, 3075 and 3142 aren't quite enough to hold the train so the Engineer has set a heavy amount of Auto... (more)
It was a dusty and dirty job for D&RGW laborers dumping and spreading rock ballast at Tunnel 17 near Crescent, Colo. on June 4, 1984.
After the Rio Grande ultimately joined Amtrak in 1983, its three famous F units served the winter of 1984 on the Ski Train. Afterwards, they spent their final days in ballast work train service ... (more)
Climbing the 2.92% grade from the Jordan River trestle, Rio Grande's Midvale Tramp is less than a quarter mile from the mainline connection at the Midvale wye. Today's local has plenty of tonnage ... (more)
Rio Grande Maintenance of Way forces were busy dumping slag ballast along the westward main track east of Springville the morning of July 22, 1988.
The always resourceful Rio Grande converted a group of sand hoppers to haul ballast in the late 1970s. Built in Feb. 1951, this remodeled car (with the original roof removed) awaits its next assig... (more)
On a warm and sunny July 1988 morning, Rio Grande's Maintenance of Way forces dump carloads of steel mill slag (utilized for track ballast) at milepost 693 of the westward main track at Mapleton, ... (more)
3113 and 3020, on a westbound slag train, await a meet with eastbound #148 at Canon City in September 1981.
An easy "chase" across the Utah desert was this slow moving eastbound slag train hauled by 5412 3101 and 3118 in March 1982. The train was pictured near Sphinx on the way to Green River - can you ... (more)
An eastbound slag train heads out of Woodside behind 5413 3101 and 3118 having followed #18 Rio Grande Zephyr out of Helper, in March 1982.
After a meet with eastbound #790 coal, eastbound slag train, behind 3116 3065 3126 and 3017 departs Tennessee Pass siding in July 1981. Once clear, #790 will be able to cut out its nine mid-train ... (more)
A ballast train led by this DRGW Geep is just getting into it, laying down a heavy smoke screen as it gets up to track speed.
