The ice is slowly melting as the sun pops out on a westbound BNSF coal train passing Frog Pond west of Trout Creek, Montana, on February 6, 2016.

A BNSF Ace swooshes into town with another BNSF six axle and a CSX four axle in the loco consist.

Coal loads fly along Montana Rail Link outside of Belgrade, Montana, in a perfect example of "Big Sky" country.

A loaded coal train struggles upgrade, climbing out of the Canyon Ferry Lake Valley on the MRL.

Lightly gliding out of the Cascade Tunnel, 4 motors on an empty coal train. Two on the front, two shoving up the rear.

RP.net photographer, John Ryan, snaps a few more frames of a westbound loaded coal train following the Missouri River through Lombard Canyon.

A westbound loaded coal train strains at the grade in the Canyon Ferry Lake valley. The train is accelerating from a meet in Townsend, and the sound reverberates off the Big Belt Mountains.

The sound of 12,300 struggling horsepower reverberates across the Canyon Ferry Lake Valley as BNSF 9357 west crawls upgrade at Bedford, MT.

Westbound coal on MRL rolls along under threatening skies at Elton, MT.

Stuck on the main while the conductor walks the train to split a crossing, this ACe is glowing in the evening sun. The second unit had a stuck axle and a traction motor fire. Railroad: BNSF Railway
Locomotive: EMD SD70ACe
Location: Cass Lake, Minnesota, USA
Locomotive #: BNSF 9357
Train ID: Clay Boswell Empties
Photo Date: April 29, 2008

After receiving over 5 feet of snow this month, we are finally down to a foot or so. This ACe is on the point waiting for a crew as an ES44AC and a SD70MAC are in DPU on the end. Railroad: BNSF Railway
Locomotive: EMD SD70ACe
Location: Cass Lake, Minnesota, USA
Locomotive #: BNSF 9357
Train ID: Clay Boswell Coal
Photo Date: April 29, 2008

The sun was perfect for this almost perfect scene with a KCS Southern Belle ES44 and SD70ACe as a trailing pair for this Southbound (RR East) coal train. The train is giving off a perfect shine wi... (more)