A southbound unit coal train behind three SD50s throttles up at Chaska as a northbound empty hopper train passes on the other main.

Two SD50s in Seaboard System colors dig in on the grade up Duff Mountain with a unit coal train. Two SD40-2s are tacked on behind the caboose to shove the train over the top.

Southbound intermodal C141 is being handled by the standard set of GE B35-7s. Seaboard System purchased these units for long-haul intermodal trains such as this. The most attractive feature of the... (more)

A southbound unit coal train departs Chaska for the climb up Duff Mountain. Double track was extended here between Chaska and Habersham in 1980 to help deal with increased traffic on this line.

During much of the '80s, CSX's motive fleet was a dog's breakfast of color. Jacksonville-Cincinnati intermodal R142 rolls downgrade along Hickory Creek just north of Chaska behind a typical consis... (more)

The Chaska helper waits at the crossover at Oaks, TN for a signal before dropping downgrade to reposition to push the next coal train up Duff Mountain. One of the crewmen is silhouetted in the cab... (more)

It was both April Fool's Day and Good Friday in 1988--an odd combination--as CSX Extra 8080 South climbed upgrade into Chaska, TN. In the passing track we're aboard the rear unit of the Duff Mount... (more)

A pair of tired, old GE U30Cs drifts back downgrade at the crossover at Oaks (named for former division superintendent Jim Oaks) after shoving a southbound coal train over Duff Mountain. The pushe... (more)

The trailing unit on the Chaska hill helper this day is ex-Clinchfield 3613, now CSXT 8971. Extra 8600 South, a 90-car unit coal train, waits on the main for the helper to drop down to the north e... (more)

A coal move grinds uphill at Chaska, as the helper light is visible under the coaling tower as it heads to the tailend to shove. The helper shacks days are numbered, as a new one has been built at... (more)

A southbound CSX unit coal train slowly climbs up Duff Mountain grade as it crosses Hickory Creek, north of Chaska, TN on May 11, 1992 with three SD50's. Two SD40-2s were shoving hard on the rear... (more)

A southbound CSX unit coal train was grinding up Duff Mountain north of Chaska, TN on October 24, 1990, led by leased ATSF C30-7 No. 8148. I remember how disappointed I was when the train emerged... (more)

Northbound CSX manifest R548 drops down Duff Mountain grade and across a rail swollen Hickory Creek north of Chaska, TN on October 23, 1990, led by "stealth" SD40-2 No. 8338.

Southbound K803 heads up the beginning of the Duff Mountain grade and will not need a helper today.

A freshly painted and yet battered SD40-2 smokes southbound out of the Hickory Creek #2 tunnel.