Essex, Montana [May 2002]

Springtime comes to Essex, in the form of rain and a late season heavy snowfall. Six SD40-2s, arranged as three helper pairs, are ready for business, as the wet, slippery rails will no doubt make things harder today for trains on Marias Pass.
Sighting along the east leg of the wye, you can see some of the freshly fallen snow immediately on the left. Clouds dance over the mountains today.
Eventually, however, the overcast begins to burn off, and by mid-morning, some sunlight shows through. By the time the westbound Empire Builder passes through the Essex crossovers, there's just enough sunlight for a decent shot.

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