Cotton Belt RSD-15 5151, November 1971 (????) PRR E8a 5793, Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, PA, 1960s (????)
BN/EMD SD60MAC 9503, Denver, CO, August 1996 (Bob Jordan) A quartet of Rio Grande power lead some TOFC around the curve in Coal Creek Canyon, January 1975 (Bob Jordan)
Rio Grande GP40-2 3124, Denver, CO, 1970s (Bob Jordan) Rio Grande GP40 3075, Denver, CO, March 1975 (Bob Jordan)
Nope, I'm sure it's dynamic brake heat paint burn. It's a badge of honor for a Rio Grande engine! 3075 in both photos has it too. It's from heavy DB usage on long, heavy grades and heavy trains. Flatland railroads wouldn't understand... These are closer shots of the DB paint burn. The paint cracks and pulls away from the primer over time. Sometimes it leads to rust as well. I snagged these shots of D&RGW 5371 in Cheyenne at the UP Roundhouse before it went back west to Ogden.
Rio Grande GP9 5904, Denver, CO, March 1975 (Bob Jordan) A pair of GP9s at Burnham, 5943 & 5942, Denver, CO, May 1973 (Bob Jordan)
UP 8444 pulling an excursion in February 1974 (Bob Jordan) Rio Grande GP35 3031, Denver, CO, May 1973 (Bob Jordan)
Where was the view of 8444 captured? Perhaps it is the photo angle, but the track ballast seems a bit less than UP heavy main line?
That is a question that I wish I had an answer to. It does appear to not be the UP main line though. If there's anyone out there that has a copy of Fifty Years of Union Pacific Steam Excursions, that'd shed some light on this particular run.
Rio Grande GP35 3035, West Plainview, CO, May 1975 (Bob Jordan) Rio Grande GP40 3062, Denver, CO, November 1973 (Bob Jordan)
UP 8444 lugging it's train in reverse through the cut at Hermosa, WY, June 1976 (Bob Jordan) Rio Grande GP35 3044, Denver, CO, January 1975 (Bob Jordan)
If I recall, it was because there were no turning facilities at some points, so 8444 would have to run in reverse to Cheyenne. UP 8444, Hermosa Cut, Wyoming, June 1976 (Bob Jordan) Rio Grande GP9 5951, April 1974 (Bob Jordan)
