Thunder Mountain Railroading...Afternoon thunderstorms have rolled into northern Arizona's high country, providing for dark and threatening clouds. Along with the sounds of distant thunder, another rumbling sound can be heard approaching from the east. Soon, the sound is identified as a trio of General Electric motors pulling a heavy Kansas City, KS to Barstow, CA mix manifest train. With the sound of high pitch squealing of metal wheels on steel rail ring in your ear, the sound of the three 4,400 horsepower engines linger as the train passes by at, what seems like, snail speed. From Winslow to Flagstaff, some 60 miles, these manifest trains grind up the 1.5 percent grade of the eastern slope of the Arizona Divide (7,335 ft). This can results in a long start to the 295 mile journey to Needles, Calif. for the outbound Winslow crews on these trains.
