A trio of Rio Grande Tunnel Motors lead an assortment of BN engines on an empty coal train approaching Tunnel #1 on the Moffat Tunnel line West of Denver. This train originated near San Antonio, T... (more)

On June 16, 2001, a quartet of BN/BNSF SD70MACs leads an empty coal train out of Tunnel 1 just east of Plainview, Colorado. In conjunction with Utah Railway, BNSF operates occasional coal trains f... (more)

Late autumn snow
Amtrak No. 5, the California Zephyr, approaches Tunnel 1 just east of Plainview, Colorado, on the snowy day of November 30, 2006.

Before the F40PHs came to the Ski Train, UP provided the power, and for several years, that was two (of three) of the Rio Grande GP60s. A summer version of the Ski Train, operated to Winter Park f... (more)

The American Orient Express is westbound climbing the Front Range of the Rockies on September 21, 2001. The train is threading the former Rio Grande right-of-way between Tunnel 2 and 3, and the sc... (more)

Through the Flatirons
On February 28, 2011, a Union Pacific coal train descends the Front Range of the Rockies. The train is exiting Tunnel 4, threading Tunnel 3, and is going through a... (more)

A summer Ski Train exits Tunnel 1, east of Plainview, Colorado, on July 29, 2000. The train is pulled by a pair of Rio Grande GP60s, and led by the 3155. The Ski Train was operated during the summ... (more)

A heavy early morning fog is just lifting off the Flatiron rock formations at Plainview, Colorado, as Amtrak’s California Zephyr crosses the west switch at Plain and is about to enter Tunnel 2 a... (more)

Ascent of the Flatirons - In this view from nearly 2.5 miles away, the lights of a BNSF manifest train can been seen snaking from left to right through tunnels 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7, then swinging wes... (more)

A now tardy California Zephyr loops around the Coal Creek Canyon quickly gaining elevation into Tunnel #1

A now tardy California Zephyr climbs into Tunnel #1 west of Denver. Engineer 'Farlow' briefly pokes his head out the cab door for a wave.

Flying the fallen flag
Union Pacific freight MDVRO approaches Tunnel 1 east of Plainview, Colorado, on September 29, 1998. All three former Rio Grande GP60s are on the point, although t... (more)

Union Pacific’s MNYRO (manifest freight from Denver’s North Yard to Salt Lake City’s Roper Yard) climbs upgrade out of Tunnel 1 just east of Plain, Colorado, on June 16, 2001. Spring rains h... (more)

Heritage for the Ski Train
For two weekends in 2007, when one of the Ski Train's F40PH locomotives was down, UP thoughtfully provided Rio Grande Heritage No. 1989 to help haul the train... (more)

The vista at Plainview
On July 28, 2001, the summer version of the Rio Grande Ski Train cruises out of Plain and is about to enter the final tunnel for the day; Tunnel 1. Operated in th... (more)