Putting some pizzaz into a Friday morning, UP 1996 evokes the spirit of the Espee as it snarls through Bealville with a West Colton-bound manifest. I'm afraid it won't be long until the other SP c... (more)

BNSF 796 looked a whole lot better in Warbonnet paint, I think. Here it tip toes downgrade into the tight curve at Austin, MT in its descent of Mullan Pass. It is nice that MRL left the NP-vintage... (more)

The nice thing about helpers (aside from preventing stalling or break-in-twos) is that added opportunity to take advantage of photo angles; especially with a dearth of westbounds this morning. Her... (more)

In Montana autumn, BNSF 7841 eases a grain train down the long grade off Marias Pass and through the tight curve between Sheds 8 and 7.

UP 8416 with a clean nose and resplendent wings heads through Blair, NE with the ACe's sonorous horn blaring for the road crossings in town.

The former C&NW line between Missouri Valley, IA and Fremont, NE via Kennard is primarily an Omaha by-pass for westbound traffic, although several priority eastbounds use the route. Here, a westbo... (more)

Dispatchers call it "double-tracking". Double-barrelled, comin' at'cha. UP 6814 accelerates out No.1 track with a coal empty as the 5668 on a 3&2 DPU grain train overtakes it on No.2 track at the ... (more)

There's nothing like a big ole manifest with varied rolling stock and graffiti. This sundowner is on the block of preceding empty hoppers as a warm May evening's shadows lengthen.

The weather has taken a sudden turn for the better in the Heartland. 'bout time! This manifest came hot-footing up the trail from Council Bluffs just before sundown and is about to lean into the c... (more)

It has generally been a cool and gray spring in the Heartland. A break in the clouds provided impetus to climb on the Harley and ride, with a train break along the way. UP 5777 hits the BNSF diamo... (more)

Passenger stations and agencies were once a common aspect of lineside detail. The 1908-built AT&SF depot in Mountainair is on the National Register of Historic Places and fortunately remains as ev... (more)

Through much of New Mexico, Arizona and California, the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe and Route 66 were kissin' cousins. Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren immortalized the AT&SF in song, and Bobb... (more)

If you're from the Heartland, where long stretches of tangent track and flatlands predominate, here is the antidote. BNSF 5277 leads an evening northbound at The Loop.

Many aesthetic elements of the railroad earth are fast disappearing as wayside detail is being relegated to generic signal systems and plowed ballast. For now, the SP line over Tehachapi still inc... (more)

The squeal of wheels through the tight arc of the Caliente horseshoe is overcome by the roar of locomotives confidently attacking the grade as the afternoon BNSF Z train climbs out of California's... (more)