Southern Pacific’s KCOAF train eases down the steep 3 percent grade on the western slope of scenic Tennessee Pass at Pando, Colorado, on August 2, 1996. The two GE AC4400CWs are from the Minturn helper pool, and are helping the road power with braking down the grade. Once at Minturn at the bottom of the hill, SD40M-2 No. 8650 and two SD45T-2s Nos. 9206 and 9264, will take the train west. To the left of the train is the northern edge of Camp Hale, a former training camp for the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division. Yes, this large facility was once served by the Rio Grande; a faint grade can be seen leaving the main line near the first car of the train.
