A westbound manifest climbs the grade to tunnel 17 near Dorris, California on Southern Pacific's Black Butte Subdivision.

Four Rio Grande EMD SD40T-2 Tunnel Motors bring the westbound Union Pacific LJP45 “dirt train” local into Mounds, Utah, on the sunny afternoon of January 30, 2003. The train is about to enter ... (more)

Rio Grande SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor Nos. 5354, 5349 and 5371 power the westbound Union Pacific “dirt train” local past the stately cliffs just west of Maxwell, Utah, as the train approaches its ho... (more)

DRGW 5354 leads a coal empty at Adams, CO, on Jan 12, 1991.

One of my 1st trips on my own was a trip out to Montana and Utah back in 2000. One of the things on the "Hit List" was this dirt train on the ex-Rio Grande" out of Helper, Utah. Eve... (more)

Eastbound 5354 running as Converse Norfolk Southern Coal meets Kansas City Roper Quality train KCRVQ led by Santa Fe 942

Man life was good back in early 2000's. Someone from UP thought it was cool to get most of the DRGW tunnel motors and placed them in Helper, Utah. It was a railfan's delight. Here a trio of helper... (more)

Rio Grande SD40T-2s No. 5354, 5347, 5401, 5345, and 5349 assist the MDVRO train down a 2% grade through Detour in Spanish Fork Canyon on July 22, 2000.

Rio Grande to the rescue! Due to mechanical ills plaguing the road power, a point helper was called to assist a late running Union Pacific Denver to Salt Lake City UPS (and Coors beer) train from ... (more)

Rio Grande SD40T-2 No. 5354 has coupled to the rear of the LJI44-22 and prepares to shove the 'Dirt Train' east to Soldier Summit the afternoon of July 22, 2000. 5354 has received the so-called 'H... (more)

By July of 2000, it just didn't get any better than this. Rio Grande SD40T-2s No. 5354, 5347, 5401, 5345, and 5349 help the MDVRO train climb the 2.53% grade through Castle Gate, cut in 45 cars de... (more)

A westbound Utah Railway coal train meets an eastbound Rio Grande freight at Rio, Utah, on the scenic route over Soldier Summit on September 11, 1992.

Union Pacific’s LJP45 “dirt train” local crosses Bridge 607.28 east of Wash on January 30, 2003. Four aging, but more than capable, Rio Grande Tunnel Motors power the train; Nos. 5354, 5390,... (more)

SP's Potash Local rambles through a deep cut on the Cane Creek Branch near Seven Mile.

The ski train grinds up the Front Range near Big 10 curve.