MAC'd up DPUs bring up the rear of an empty coal train as it glides into Larkspur on a surprisingly, against-forecast sunny afternoon.

BNSF 9260 leads a string of empty hoppers north into Larkspur in front the appropriately named Larkspur Butte. 48 hours earlier, I caught this train working through Palmer Lake fully loaded.

BNSF 9786 spews a misty haze of smoke as it leads coal loads south across the famous Santa Fe bridge in Larkspur. More info at Railroad: BNSF Railway
Locomotive: EMD SD70MAC
Location: Larkspur, Colorado, USA
Locomotive #: BNSF 9786
Train ID: Unknown
Photo Date: January 17, 2011

southbound BNSF grain train near Larkspur, CO

BNSF 6004 and BNSF 6400 pull coal loads up the hill into Larkspur.

An ACe and a MAC strain to bring coal loads uphill into Larkspur. Amazingly, it's 28 December, and the Front Range has seen little-to-no snow by this point...but that would change just 2 days lat... (more)

UP empty auto rack train approaching Larkspur, CO

BNSF Laurel, MT to Amarillo, TX train HLAUAMA is climbing through Larkspur, CO.

southbound manifest train Larkspur, CO

southbound UP coal load climbing through Larkspur, CO

BNSF's Pikes Peak Local works south into Larkspur behind a matched pair of blue EMDX leasers. One nice thing this local brings to the Joint Line, besides standard cab units, is the chance to see ... (more)

After a rare crew change in Greenland, this northbound manifest is underway again heading north, seen here skirting the base of Hunt Mountain (which isn't really a mountain but more of a plateau).

A winged GE veteran leads CSUX coal loads south through Larkspur. Usually Union Pacific will run 3 mid-train helpers, but they went BNSF-style with this one: two up front and two on the rear.

A southbound manifest works up the grade through Larkspur behind a pair of Dash 9s. I keep hoping this scene will repeat itself but with SD60Ms providing the ponies!

A pair of DPU ACes shoves on the end of a loaded coal train as it slowly makes its way up the grade southbound on Main 1.