COAL TRAINS OVER CRAWFORD HILL
IN STOCK AND SHIPPING NOW
In the panhandle of northwestern Nebraska, coal trains from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin battle a mountain grade through an epic setting. On the BNSF timetable, this is a thirteen-mile section of the Butte Subdivision between Alliance, Nebraska and Edgemont, South Dakota. Railroaders and railfans know it as Crawford Hill.
The double-track main line is a coal conveyor belt pitched on a 1.55% grade. Manned helpers assist heavy coal trains to the summit at Belmont, then drift back down the hill for the next shove. Trains roar through Crawford as they get a run at the hill, but soon they are on their knees, grinding around Breezy Point. Once east of the crossovers at Belmont, the helpers disconnect on the fly.
The incredible horseshoe curves and deep cuts through the Pine Ridge escarpment provide an unlimited number of exciting locations to watch and photograph trains. Both line-side and aerial photography were used to capture the majesty of this area on screen.
Shot in beautiful 4K!
2 Hours 24 Minutes
Stereo Sound
Narration on/off
List price $29.95. SKU: CRAWFORDDVD and CRAWFORDBR. Posted October 31, 2025.
