Estbound Rio Grande coal train approaching Tunnel One on 10/20/1991. This train is led by two tunnel motors and two SD50s: 5347, 5507, 5506, 5395. Mid-train is another tunnel motor and two more SD50's as swing helper, and a pair of SD40T-2's are the rear helper. That's nine units, for those counting. Note the snow covering the coal in the hoppers. Also note the fourth car back, a second-hand triple hopper the railroad picked up the previous year. The rest of the train consists of standard Bethlehem quad hoppers.

This is essentially an all-DRGW operation. All the power and the cars are Rio Grande, and so is the logistical side of things. Starting the following February, the DRGW/SP/SSW system would undergo a drastic change as management changed corporate philosophy to emphasize the SP brand. Operating methods would be revised, and the hold-out traditional Rio Grande practices would be transitioned to a more typical SP system. What you are seeing here is the very last days of the Rio Grande as an operating entity.

The photo is on my Sundries page. You can see more images of this train at this page in my SP site.