It seemed fitting that one of the last trains I would see operating over Tennessee Pass was led by a Rio Grande Tunnel Motor. If I recall the events of that day correctly, AHNOA (Autos - Herrington, KS to Oakland, CA) was initially led up SSW 6892 and UP 5032. The open hood doors on the Cotton Belt SD45T-2 hint at mechanical trouble, and I believe the 5379 was pulled off of an eastbound to assist this train up Tennessee Pass. Thanks to advanced notice given by a friendly UP employee at Minturn, I and another railfan were able to find and chase this train up the pass. The train is shown here about to cross the Arkansas River on the approach to Kobe siding. Within one month this line would be closed as a through route.
