On Independence Day 2007, Amtrak #8, the eastbound Empire Builder, makes a late stop at Staples while a coal train bound for Superior waits for the Amtrak to get underway so they can cross over to... (more)

Early morning 07/07/07-a matched set of ES44AC's wait in the Staples yard to take a DEEX train on to it's destination in Duluth/Superior.

Shiny SD75M on a Superior-bound coal train passes through the Staples yard. I was lucky to catch this while there was a hole in the clouds.

Staples yard looks like it did 10+ years ago when it was a crew change point - filled with coal trains. Crews are changing here today on account of a derailment about 90 miles west of here.

The BNSF 4184 leads an autorack train through a serene setting west of Staples on a chilly April day.

The crew on this empty coal train has signal indication onto the Staples Subdivision just down the tracks and only minutes of daylight left as they pass through a curve east of Staples.

Two coal loads are tied down in Staples Yard.

Two coal trains resting in Staples yard wait for crews to take them east

An eastbound stack train passes through the westbound signal at MP 148.1.

Waiting for a westbound (coal empties) to clear, BNSF 9247 patiently waits to move east. Notice how the conductor can be easily seen.

SD40-2 bringing a long string of hoppers out of Staples yard

A pair of MACs were working hard to move coal loads east on the Brainerd Sub

A 4 axle GE leans into a long freight along with a BNSF SD40-2 and KCS tunnel motor rebuild heading west out of Staples

Going through a crossing after dark this consist of BNSFs head westward.