SP262 charges up the heavy grade at West Mitchell. The train is sitting on the longest sustained portion of 3% grade on Tennessee Pass. The head-end is about to enter a short section of the original narrow gauge ROW before turning into the Mitchell Curves. The grade in the Mitchell's ahead is less than 3%, however when compensated for curvature that portion is closer to the equivalent of 3.2%. This was one steep mountain! This particular train is of interest as it was one of the first DPU trains run east over Tennessee Pass. These Distributed Power trains ran 2x2 out of Grand Junction, instead of the normal 3x2 out of Glenwood springs. At Minturn the train picked up a 4 unit swing help.....
... I have posted a scan of this train before, but this is the next frame and I think is better balanced... This next frame on the roll has never been posted
