Union Pacific MDVRO (Denver to Roper Yard in Salt Lake City) freight leaves the great plains behind as it curves out of Clay, Colorado, on April 18, 2001. Eight locomotives power the westbound tra... (more)

The effects of water on desert landscapes is evident in this vista of the eastbound Union Pacific LJP45 “dirt train” local at West Mounds, Utah, on April 6, 2005. A pair of Rio Grande EMD SD40... (more)

Thunderstorms gather over the Book Cliffs to the north as three Rio Grande Tunnel Motors put their train together at the ECDC landfill at East Carbon, Utah, on October 5, 2004. This local train (L... (more)

With the Rio Grande 'Gang of Four' on the point, UP's LJP45 local rolls through D&RGW's 1945 'Farnham Line Change' east of Wellington on April 11, 2003. The track realignment required a new crossi... (more)

A six-pack of Rio Grande SD40T-2s drift through Helper Yard prior to cutting into a 100 car coal train for the steep climb to Soldier Summit. In the group are DRGW 5390, DRGW 5342, DRGW 5373, DRGW... (more)

With the emerald colors of spring sprouting in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, three Rio Grande Tunnel Motors head eastbound through Castilla with a “dirt train” picked up at Sutro on the west ... (more)

Eastbound Union Pacific “dirt train” LJP45 local pours it on approaching Mounds, Utah, on May 4, 2004. Many times as the train approached our location, regular engineer Mel Baughman would spot... (more)

Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 Nos. 5390, 5377 and 5401 power the westbound LJP45 “dirt train” just east of Mounds, Utah, on the Sunnyside Branch on May 22, 2002.

Clearing a slow order east of Wash, Utah, westbound Union Pacific LJP45 “dirt train” powered by three Rio Grande SD40T-2s belches black smoke crossing Bridge 607.46 on October 8, 2004.

Powered by four Rio Grande Tunnel Motors, Union Pacific’s LJP45 “dirt train” departs Wellington Canyon and heads eastbound into the desert east of Wash, Utah, on July 27, 2002.

Rio Grande SD40T-2 Tunnel Motors are parked at mile 14.4 on the Sunnyside Branch as the crew of Union Pacific’s LJP45 “dirt train” local has lunch on October 6, 2004. Parked next the locomot... (more)

Union Pacific’s LJP45 local crew switches the yard at Helper, Utah, on a crisp February 8, 2005. Normally, this local hauled contaminated dirt and municipal trash (and other waste) to a landfill... (more)

With snow still falling on a stormy-looking Bookcliffs in the background, westbound Union Pacific “dirt train” local LJP45 rolls into brilliant sunshine as it passes the east switch at Banning... (more)

In really nice springtime weather, the crew of Union Pacific’s LJP45 “dirt train” has lunch at the Valdez Drive-In at East Carbon, Utah, on May 4, 2004. As food is prepared, a couple of loca... (more)

In an unusual visit to the west slope of the Wasatch Mountains, Union Pacific’s LJP45 local exits Thistle Tunnel on the long climb to Soldier Summit on May 5, 2004. Three Rio Grande SD40T-2 “T... (more)