A westbound BNSF empty coal train approaches East Coal Creek in Powder River Basin, Wyoming, on June 14, 2014, as rain and thunderstorms blow in from the west.

An eastbound (geographical south) UP unit coal train was slowly climbing upgrade at East Coal Creek, WY on Sept. 22, 1995, led by UP C40-8 No. 9243.

Being from "back east," it took me a while to learn the extremes of western weather. One such lesson was learned in mid-September of 1995 on a trip to the Powder River Basin. I really hadn't pla... (more)