A westbound Union Pacific coal empty rumbles by the east switch at Clay, Colorado, with seven AC4400CWs leading the way on April 29, 2009.

Still looking like the Southern Pacific, a Union Pacific coal train descends the loop at Coal Creek Canyon west of Clay, Colorado.The lead AC4400CWs are passing the detector at mile 22.6, while th... (more)

A westbound BNSF freight with SD40-2 pushers crosses Blue Mountain Drive at the mouth of Coal Creek Canyon on October 23, 2001. Climbing toward Tunnel 1 in the background is the head end of the tr... (more)

Spectacular soft winter light shines down on the front range of the Rockies hours after the snow storm clears out of town. From across the valley, we see an eastbound UP coal train stretched out a... (more)

The snow-covered peaks of the front range rise mercilessly from the foothills, utterly dwarfing the man-made machinery that traverses through this unforgiving terrain.

Denver had its largest February snowfall ever recorded between February 2nd and 4th 2012. After 48 hours of wind-whipped snow, the clouds finally broke around lunchtime on the 4th to reveal a glor... (more)

The view from the eastern-most buttes near Clay and Big Ten Curve seem to stretch endlessly over the prairies. Looking southeast, an EB manifest descends through the famous curve toward Denver, vi... (more)

Leaving Coal Creek Canyon and the rugged Rocky Mountains behind, a train full of the black diamonds snakes its way through Little Ten Curve heading toward Denver.

A full moon combined with the last remaining moments of twilight gently illuminate the snowy foothills as an empty coal train climbs and curves toward Tunnel 1 on its journey over the Continental ... (more)

It's last light at Big Ten Curve as a loaded coal train descends toward Denver. The three mid-train helpers are moving Right to Left, while the front portion of the train is moving Left to Right b... (more)

The second ski train of the season climbs the front range at Clay, CO. This train is a welcome addition to usual coal and Amtrak trains.

The Rocky Mountains jutt up from flat land just West of Denver. This huge incline is the beginning of an uphill battle to the Moffat Tunnel and Continental Divide. This was one of the most extreme... (more)

The entire train can be seen as I look down on Big Ten Curve.

You can see the elevation this train has come down as the lead locomotives pass by the last cars of the train still on the mountain side.

UP 4676 has a big climb ahead of it on it's way to the Moffat Tunnel.