A former Southern Pacific C44AC glows in the late evening sun as it leads loaded frac sand train MALMCS westward. These heavy sand trains were fun to watch since they usually had a set of four big... (more)
A nice set of power including two patched Espee's lead by a pristine dash 9 with wings and low, black numberboards, is ready to depart Altoona with MALMCS.
MALMCS-13 rushes through downtown Roberts with a trio of ex Espee locomotives including UP 6225, UP 6162 and UP 9594. A nice sight to see on a partially sunny day.
A trio of Espees bring ALMCS west on the Altoona Sub. The units were the unpatched SP 144 and the patched UP 6210 and 6175.
A nice GEVO leads MALMCS at Sono Jct. Strange to see a GEVO on MALMCS, which usually attracts Dash 9's and SP and Ex. SP C44AC's.
MALMCS moves west with a sharp looking C41-8W on the point.
A unit sand train battles gravity on the way up Knapp Hill on the Altoona Sub. The tonnage would prove to be too much for the trio of locomotives and some cars would be set out at the next siding.
Jointed rail has been replaced with ribbon rail on much of the Altoona Sub but old obstacles like Knapp Hill still pose a challenge to the heavy new sand traffic. This westbounder is inching up to... (more)
A colorful consist of BC Rail and former SP power leads an Altoona, WI to Mason City, IA train west across the Chippewa River.
SP power has been working the Altoona Sub for several weeks now, mainly assigned to MALMCS sand trains between Altoona and Mason City. This train was created to bypass switching the cars out at S... (more)
SP 144 leads two patched units on MALMCS (Altoona-Mason City) sand loads.