A Union Pacific rail train makes its way around the second horseshoe curve up on Cuesta Grade. This is where Serrano siding used to be before a mudslide wiped it out and forced the railroad to mo... (more)

An Oakland bound inter-modal train stops in SLO for a crew change. Someone has changed the front herald to read “Onion Pacific”. Nikon D70, 35-70mm.

Amtrak train 14, the "Coast Starlight," accelerates out of San Luis Obispo, California, as it heads north on August 8, 1982.

The southbound (railroad eastbound) "Coast Starlight" rolls past Cal Poly University as it enters San Luis Obispo on California's scenic central coast on the first day of 1994. The power includes... (more)

The San Luis Obispo helpers sit on the helper spur after the first real rain of the season in SLO. Nikon E995.

Four locomotives on the head end and five more helpers cut in mid-train boost a typical long SP freight up the Cuesta grade and over the Santa Margueritas.

A UP freight makes it way across the Stenner Creek Trestle as it heads south off of Cuesta Grade. In the background Bishops Peak can be seen as the sun sinks behind clouds in the west. Nikon E99... (more)

Basking in the late afternoon Sun.

Southern Pacific SD40 7342 (ex-8470) prepares to assist 4-8-4 4449 over Cuesta Grade as the power backs onto the excusion in San Luis Obispo, CA, on June 20, 1984.

Pacific Surfliner 798 in push mode prepares to board passengers for its southbound trip. A dummy loco. is being used as the baggage cab-car.

“You wouldn’t like trains if you worked for the railroad” the engineer of this north bound informed me when I was taking photos. The northbound here was waiting for a southbound to clear of... (more)

The northbound Coast Starlight starts its way up Cuesta Grade passing the Cal Poly swine unit. Cerro Vista, Cal Poly's new apartments for second year students can be seen in the background. Nikon... (more)

The 3-unit helper set sits shut down on their spur track across from the SLO Amtrak station, awaiting a train to help on the Cuesta Grade. The top of the old SP water tank can be seen behind the ... (more)

A pair of SD60Ms await their call to helper duty as a curious cat investigates them.