A Los Angeles bound stack train takes the siding at Picacho, AZ to let a pair of hot eastbound Z trains by. A Phoenix bound auto train works off of the north siding.

The Phoenix - West Colton manifest comes off of the Phoenix Sub at Picacho and turns west onto the Gila Sub (Sunset Route).

Don't you hate it when the only cloud in the sky messes with you?! UP 7420 leads stacks and racks east on a part of the single tracked Sunset Route.

UP 7706 hits the east switch at Wymola at 65mph heading west on UP's Sunset Route.

After meeting an eastbound intermodal at Picacho, a westbound manifest heads out of the siding towards its next meet, threading the remaining single track of the Sunset Route.

Some new paint passes through Picacho heading westbound to Gila Bend. The track to the left is part of the Wye which goes to Phoenix. Picacho is still hanging on to its SP Cantilever Signal bridge... (more)

A westbound accelerates out of the siding at Picacho. The afternoon heat is just starting to settle in at a comfortable 105 degrees.

The conductor waves as his autorack train departs after a meet.

A westbound manifest meets an eastbound at Picacho

Union Pacific westbound ballast train passes under a classic SP era cantilever signal bridge. The train will soon make a right turn and head for Phoenix leaving the Sunset Route behind on this 99 ... (more)

The Sunset Limited rolls by a westbound stacktrain with a SD90mac II in the consist. Too bad they didn't last.

Noning but straight long track out west of Tucson Yard. Another hot day in the desert has concluded, and this eastbound crew can finally cool off.

A Phoenix bound manifest creeps onto the Phoenix line. This switch until recently was a manual throw. The conductor had to set the switch, let the train through, then be transported by courier to ... (more)

Toward the end of the day, this auto train is ready to cross onto the phoenix line. Some signs of SP still lurk in this area, we'll see how long it lasts.

SD 70M 4533 passes the old Southern Pacific Red Rock water tower at Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona