A DASH 9 leads a UP Z-train out of Tunnel 3 at Bealville.
This is one of the more unique hi-rail vehicles I've seen. Basically, it's a flatbed rig with railroad wheels attached. It has a huge, surprisingly life-like robotic claw that was used to pick up and drop sections of rail beside the tracks, just out of view of this photo. After it was done dropping, it headed back the way it came and exited the rails at the Bealville railroad crossing.
Ok, you're just going to have to believe me on this one. Behind this locomotives was a solid unit train of empty coal hoppers, common for UP but rare for BNSF. Even stranger, almost all of them were lettered for DRGW or UP. Unfortunately, this cannot be seen. This train snuck up one me just as I was changing film and all that I got was this quick grab shot.
220 ft long Tunnel 2 is the shortest tunnel on the hill. I snapped this photo standing just outside the tunnel portal.
A westbound UP train exits Tunnel 2.
