Off we go heading north on I-25 with Kevin at the wheel. We hope to see a couple trains on this trip. Camera phone photo.

We got lucky early in the trip and caught a WB in Glorieta Pass. An increasingly rare sight as BNSF will pull all freight traffic from the Glorieta and Raton Subs by the end of 2007.

We next caught our train near Don Imus' ranch on the horseshoe curves near Blanchard.

The face of the massive Glorieta Mesa is in the background.

Semaphores near Wagon Mound, New Mexico, on the Raton Sub. In the background is the namesake volcanic rock formation of Wagon Mound -- a major landmark for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail.

Cresting the top of Raton Pass northbound on I-25 looking into Colorado. The twin Spanish Peaks are just to the left of the yellow roadsign.

Arriving in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The clock tower spire of the Cheyenne Depot is on the left.

Lunch at the restaurant in the Cheyenne Depot. The great thing about eating there is that the UP crew change point is right outside. Camera phone photo.

Heading west from Cheyenne on I-80, we headed for Hermosa Tunnel via the Ames Monument. By the time we exited I-80 20 miles west of Cheyenne, we were caught in a wicked snowstorm with 50 mph wind gusts. Yes, it is June.

By the time we reach the Ames Monument several miles off of I-80, we are over 8200 feet in elevation, in an absolute blizzard, and getting blasted by relentless winds. For the story on the Ames Monument see: http://www.over-land.com/ames.html

Historic marker at the Ames Monument

We arrive at Hermosa Tunnel to find an EB intermodal train exiting the tunnel.

Kevin enjoys the weather waiting for a train at Hermosa Tunnel.

WB 'Racks peer out of the tunnel at the snowstorm.

WB autoracks head toward Laramie.

Kevin and I leave Hermosa and will head to Laramie via US 287. A couple of bone chilling hours that we will never forget.

Kevin and I stop in at Coal Creek Coffee in Laramie for some hot java. I've been buying coffee here for a decade on railfan trips to the area and it was never better than that day. Coal Creek Coffee is near the base of the pedestrian bridge over the yard in Laramie.

Laramie from the pedestrian bridge over the Union Pacific yard. The tall spire on the skyline is the University of Wyoming.

After waiting on the pedestrian bridge in Laramie in the cold guzzling coffee, we leave after not seeing a train. Of course as soon as we walk down off the bridge a WB UP intermodal with SD70ACe 8449 on the point sneaks up on us. Arrrgh. Some railfanning rules are immutable: if you want a train at a location head for your car.

Friday morning we left Cheyenne and headed for the Powder River Basin via Torrington, Wyoming. We caught this UP train on US 85 near Yoder. Although somewhat overcast with flat light, we were just glad to see the weather improving after our experience the day before at Hermosa.

Once we got to Torrington, we headed northwest on US 26 and paralleled the BNSF toward Guernsey. We stopped at the grade crossing at Texas, Wyoming, to catch a few trains.

BNSF 8912 on the point hauling empties to the Powder River basin for a refill.

Behind this WB next to US 26 are the bluffs along the North Platte River.

BNSF fuel racks at Guernsey, Wyoming, loaded with EBs.

Overall view of the BNSF engine servicing facility at Guernsey, Wyoming.

Skies begin to clear in earnest at Dwyer, Wyoming.

Welcome to the Powder River Basin. The vastness of the vastness: this place is B I G.

In your face in the PRB

Heading north toward Bill. Wyoming. That's a BNSF yard on the left.

5712 on the point with loads.

Both BNSF and UP serve the Powder River Basin.

Looking south at the tracks that service the Antelope Mine.

Looking north at the tracks that service the Antelope Mine.

Dragline deep in the Antelope Mine.

Part of the Antelope Mine complex.

UP 6637 on point with loads.

Unpatched ex-SP AC4400 177 came through as a helper.

Two units strike a pose.

9354 and friends prepare to depart with loads from the colossal Black Thunder Mine complex.

Rear helpers on trains going into Black Thunder Mine for loading.

Part of the Black Thunder Mine complex.

BNSF SD70ACe 9354 on the point with loads headed for the north end of the PRB and Gillette, Wyoming.

Coal, coal, coal.

Empties southbound coming from Gillette.

Tugging empties uphill.

Three trains in the seemingly limitless Powder River Basin.

Dusk in the Powder River Basin.

Sunday morning in Pueblo, Colorado. The UP yard is on the left and the BNSF yard is on the right.

Switching the BNSF yard in Pueblo were a GP60M and a Dash 8-40BW.

The former Santa Fe depot in Fowler, Colorado.

Another view of the depot in Fowler, Colorado.

The elevator across the street from the depot in La Junta, Colorado, featured an ex-Santa Fe hopper.

Close-up of the ex-Santa Fe hopper.

We chased this train with molten sulphur cars from Pueblo to La Junta.

BNSF SD70MAC 9850 idles in front of the depot at La Junta, Colorado.

Driving from La Junta to Trinidad, Colorado, on US 350 we stumbled onto this wig-wag in the tiny micro-hamlet of Delhi.

Don't find these every day so I took a few shots.

Beautiful Delhi.

We ended the trip back near where we began at the horseshoe curves at Blanchard on the Glorieta Sub. Kevin's taking photos for a module project.