Hauling seven cars of lumber, BNSF’s Sandpoint local speeds past milepost 33 between Athol and Ramsey, Idaho, on a snowy February 7, 2023.

BNSF’s Sandpoint local, led by EMD GP60M-3 No. 105, flies through the curve approaching Athol, Idaho, on February 3, 2022.

Led by EMD SD70MACe No. 9749, a westbound BNSF manifest freight curves though the big cut on double track between Granite and Athol, Idaho, on February 4, 2021.

BNSF’s Sandpoint local meets a westbound BNSF manifest freight in the big cut on double track between Athol and Granite, Idaho, on February 4, 2021. The two loads were picked up Idaho Forest mil... (more)

An oddly cleaned BNSF engine. Somebody likes stripes.

A beautiful fall day finds the Funnel full of trains, some of which are parked. BNSF 3993 is on the point of a loaded oil train sitting idle after just re-crewing with a relief crew to get it to H... (more)

BNSF 6634 rolls a Z train west at Granite, east of Athol, ID on the way into Hauser Yard for a crew change. This area is part of a major line relocation done by Northern Pacific to improve their m... (more)

BNSF 6774 west is seen here racing across granite loop rd near Athol, ID with a work train. Soon the train will travel over the NP Fill and through the Athol Cut. The train consisted of Ballast ho... (more)

A pair of both SD60M's and SD40-2's head Westbound on a loaded coal train across the busy "funnel" line between Sandpoint and Spokane.

Former Eureka-Nevada Railway Company #7 operates on a 4 mile loop of track in northern Idaho. The south end of the line allows for ample photo opportunities.

4449 hustles across a bridge over the UP as it heads to Whitefish. Happy Fourth of July!

Lots of variety in the Pacific Northwest and the grain season has just started to kick in. BNSF funnels large amounts of tonnage to transloaders at Portland, Vancouver and Tacoma.

The Northern Pacific first created Athol Cut in 1965 to bypass a circuitous section of line. The BNSF widened it in 1997 and it can be viewed via a woodland track off Homestead Road three miles no... (more)

CEFX 106 slowly makes it's way west with 98 grain loads.

BNSF 5426 and 8217 throttle up as they get a better signal approaching West Athol.