Led by an aging 90MAC, a well-powered (4+2) merchandiser eases itself down the Sacramento valley route south of Dunsmuir.

This westbound empty garbage train is just getting underway again after a meet with an eastbound merchandiser. The Columbia Gorge trackage is a major conduit for trash traveling to the landfill a... (more)

Even garbage trains can present an impressive sight, rolling through the scenic Columbia Gorge on a sunny afternoon. This westbound empty is probably headed back to Everett for another load of th... (more)

Having squirmed its way through the Cascade mountains, the Empire Builder can now stretch its legs across open trestles before slowing for the stop in Everett. Only another hour to the end of the... (more)

The crew consults on the next move while switching the diminutive yard on the edge of downtown Rutland. Squint and you can imagine the old Rutland RR itself.

Inevitably, an interest in railroads seems to lead to a long-term acquaintance with history, trying to remember what and where it was that we saw not all that many years ago. Corporate and techno... (more)

The plethora of snow shots stemming from the recent storms across North America reminds me of some of my favorite "oldies," including this photo of an early Conrail freight, headed by a former NYC... (more)

Like many small towns in Iowa (and elsewhere), North English no longer enjoys rail service. Today, where 1005 kicks up the dust in 1977 at the South Main Street crossing and approaches a spot of ... (more)

After two trips "up the hill" to the Boeing assembly plant today, BNSF geeps 2081 and 2361 prepare to return to Everett, pushing the caboose (this one, freshly painted in the BNSF "power bar" sche... (more)

Commuter consists crowd the tracks surrounding the Metra shops, awaiting the evening rush. Seen from the south side of the Skydeck, atop Chicago's Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. Make room for th... (more)

The Seattle region is far enough north that it seems like the Sounder commuter trains operate on an arctic schedule -- half the year in darkness and half in light. It's nice to see them running i... (more)

BNSF has been running their monster grain trains to the West Coast with DPUs placed at several points in the consist. For the return journey, all the power has been piled on the front, as witnes... (more)

With the standard two units up front and two on the rear, another empty Roberts Bank coal train moves out to conquer Stevens Pass on the way back to Wyoming for another load of export coal. This ... (more)

Sound Transit 906, pushing evening commuters into the Mukilteo stop, positively glows against the remnants of an early spring storm, simultaneously enhancing the ski slopes of Stevens Pass in the ... (more)

Even trash can look good! A southbound loaded garbage train wends its way along BNSF's shoreline trackage complemented with a high tide and (hold your hats!) sunshine.