An empty Cochise, AZ - Energy Mine coal train climbs the 2% grade through Copper Spur on the Craig Branch.

An empty coal train climbs through the Crater Loops on the former D&RGW Craig Branch.

3 SD35's lead Montana Rail Link's night gas off the 10th Subdivision at Paradise, MT.

One of a kind BNSF 9297 leads the M CASDEN3 05 approaching Burns Jct. at Broomfield, CO. SD60M BN 9297 was repainted into this experimental scheme after the BN + ATSF merger in 1996. The red s... (more)

BNSF's H CSXPAS1 08 detouring over MRL, digs into the start of Mullan Pass, leaving Helena behind, after adding helpers at Tobin, MT.

Montana Rail Link leads BNSF trackage rights train out of Tunnel 29 east of Pinecliffe, CO. I still laugh about catching this. I had spent most of the day hiking around Big 10 photographing wh... (more)

Canadian Pacific leads Union Pacific coal at Dell, CO.

On one of their first trains, a 3 unit set of brand new CREX units lead a BNSF trackage rights train along the former D&RGW.

On a stormy evening, a lengthy Union Pacific passenger special heads through Little Gore Canyon.

SP 335 crests Toponas Summit, formerly a helper district on the D&RGW's Craig Branch. Remanence of the wye for Phippsburg, CO based steam helpers is still visible. Flanked by the Flat Tops to the ... (more)

Full moon lit up another trainless night at the foot of Tennessee Pass.

Empties roll out of Red Gorge as seen from near the top of another tree.

Had to go tree climbing for this view of eastbound Craig Branch coal loads.

D&RGW's original search lights still protect UP's Craig Branch and our galaxy at 04:00h. I don't believe there was a single train on the entire 130+ miles of this coal branch line, the Milky Way a... (more)

Just a few seconds before the train filled the scene and much to my amazement, a plane banks out of Little Gore Canyon far below me. I was so mesmerized by the plane I just about forgot to take my... (more)