A loaded coal train slowly moves through the Powder River Basin on a warm summer day as they 110 car plus long train looks like it goes for miles a miles.

Help is on the way! The helper set races along the Powder River Basin as they head for the Black Thunder mines to help out a loaded coal train that doesn't have enough power to leave the P... (more)

An outbound loaded coal train starts to roar up to track speed as the DPUs of the train exit the "tunnel" at Reno Junction.

Reno Junction is a fantastic spot to watch trains in the Powder River Basin. Case-in-point is this eastbound (actually heading compass south) on Main 3. The train just finished loading at the Blac... (more)

A UP coal load passes an MofW crew hard at work on the adjacent main line track.

Five trains are visible at or approaching Reno Junction from our vantage point, including an empty headed for the huge Black Thunder Mine to the east.

The helper set races across the Powder River Basin for Reno Jct as a out bound coal train has engines problems and needs help.

A UP load from Black Thunder enter the BNSF Orin Subdivision at Reno Junction.

One of the Black Thunder Mine loadouts in background.

One of the reason for the 1995 trip to the Powder River Basin was to try to get CNW power before it was patched or repainted. Thankfully, to a large degree, it worked. Most trains had CNW leader... (more)

A westbound (geographic north) UP empty unit coal train was waiting for traffic to clear at "Crossover 47.3," near Reno Jct., WY on September 20, 1995, led by CNW C40-8 No. 8507.

A couple of UP coal trains work through Reno Junction as construction workers raise a new loadout west of the main line. In a few days the giant blue crane will come crashing down onto the tracks.

A loaded UP coal train passes through Reno Junction as a UP train loads in the background with SP units as DPU’s.

An empty southbound BNSF train passes the DPU on a northbound empty UP train while the DPU’s shove on a loaded southbound BNSF train coming from the Black Thunder Mine.