A loaded coal train makes for a fine sight as it sweeps thru an S curve along Hwy 2.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe EMD SD9 No. 6128 switches coal gons at South Yard in Alliance, Nebraska, late in the day of July 21, 2003.

On display outside Alliance, Nebraska's American Electric Power facility is this rare critter. An 1100 horsepower switcher built by GE. It worked several railroads, including CNW and BN.

On September 15, 2013, three BNSF coal loads wait their turn to head east at East Alliance as an empty coal train led by an EMD SD70ACe arrives. In the distance, the headlights of another westboun... (more)

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Car Shop at Alliance, Nebraska, has the task of keeping many of the hoppers and gondolas used in grueling Powder River Basin coal service in good repair. I was ama... (more)

Burlington Northern Santa Fe tried several test schemes before coming up with “Heritage I” paint for the merged railroad. One on them, applied to BN SD70MAC No. 9647 was not very popular, and nick... (more)

BN 5342 and two C30-7s are ready to head east from Alliance, NE towards Grand Island and Lincoln. If lucky they will get underway before the background storm hits town. this storm was part of a sy... (more)

Inside Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s Alliance Diesel Shop is a group of hard-working coal-hauling EMD SD70MACs on July 21, 2003.

Former BN 5545, a C30-7, still sits on the north side of the BNSF yard in Alliance, NE.

Nine years before BNSF, Alliance looked like the merger had already taken place with run through coal train power from Santa Fe on hand. It also predicted the future dominance of GE in the North A... (more)

A BN coal train eases into Alliance, NE after a trip over Crawford Hill. One of BN's three leased SD60s, featuring the tiger stripe scheme, leads the all EMD consist. Note the fuel tender on board... (more)

A BN coal train heads west towards Alliance on the former Burlington Lincoln line through the Sand Hills. C30-7s and SD40-2s rule the day in coal country, but not for too much longer as the railro... (more)

Coal empties wait heading out of Alliance.

A BNSF empty coal train heads west towards Alliance in late afternoon light. BNSF 6071 operating as a DPU gives the train a shove over the rolling hills and ever increasing elevation.

BNSF 5854 leads a KCS belle south as this train departs Alliance on the Angora Sub.