Advanced Approach Photography

Advanced Approach Photography Railroad photography based out of Roanoke, Va

Union Pacific’s Potash Local winds its way along the Colorado River in the depths of Ruby Canyon somewhere in the desert...
09/06/2026

Union Pacific’s Potash Local winds its way along the Colorado River in the depths of Ruby Canyon somewhere in the desert along the Colorado/Utah border.

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The light power move ever.Originally built in 1962 as a GP30 for the CB&Q, rebuilt GP39E BNSF 2745 (still in full Burlin...
09/05/2026

The light power move ever.

Originally built in 1962 as a GP30 for the CB&Q, rebuilt GP39E BNSF 2745 (still in full Burlington Northern Paint) hustles the BNSF Parachute Local power east towards Parachute to begin its work for the day.
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With “Santa Fe” still proudly emblazoned across the cigar band on the nose, BNSF 717 hustles westbound slop freight NS 1...
09/01/2026

With “Santa Fe” still proudly emblazoned across the cigar band on the nose, BNSF 717 hustles westbound slop freight NS 11E through Wabun on a cloudy summer morning.
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I’m still in disbelief that I was fortunate enough to witness a Union Pacific Big Boy run across Pennsylvania. The Union...
08/12/2026

I’m still in disbelief that I was fortunate enough to witness a Union Pacific Big Boy run across Pennsylvania. The Union Pacific Big Boy Coast to Coast Tour to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary finally came to a close a couple weeks ago after covering 14 states and over 7,000 miles from Cheyenne, WY - Sacramento, CA - Philadelphia, PA and finally back to Cheyenne over the course of almost 3 months. This truly was the railfan event of the century and I’m grateful that I was able to document it.
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The westbound Rocky Mountaineer coasts along the Colorado River just outside of Cameo, CO as it parallels Interstate 70 ...
08/11/2026

The westbound Rocky Mountaineer coasts along the Colorado River just outside of Cameo, CO as it parallels Interstate 70 and closes in on Grand Junction with a pair of veteran UP SD70Ms for power.
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Westbound manifest train NS 11E emerges out of the west portal of Montgomery Tunnel with a Santa Fe warbonnet leading th...
08/08/2026

Westbound manifest train NS 11E emerges out of the west portal of Montgomery Tunnel with a Santa Fe warbonnet leading the struggle up the mountain.
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“Red Dead Redemption”The clouds over Shawsville are beginning to break as westbound slop freight NS 11E finds a pocket o...
08/06/2026

“Red Dead Redemption”

The clouds over Shawsville are beginning to break as westbound slop freight NS 11E finds a pocket of golden sun at John Farm. The lead locomotive is a BNSF Warbonnet with “Santa Fe” still prominently adorned across the cigar band on the nose.

Growing up I always loved the Santa Fe and I still think that the iconic Warbonnet scheme is the best paint job that’s ever been applied to a locomotive, and while I have seen several “Fakebonnets” in the past with BNSF lettering all around, but only had one prior opportunity to shoot one that still has Santa Fe lettering on the nose leading 3 years ago, which unfortunately I largely missed out on against my will. Thankfully I got my second chance earlier this week, and was able to redeem myself for what I missed out on 3 years ago.
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Norfolk Southern 250, The Freedom, leads westbound manifest 19M up the Christiansburg Grade past John Farm in Shawsville...
08/01/2026

Norfolk Southern 250, The Freedom, leads westbound manifest 19M up the Christiansburg Grade past John Farm in Shawsville, VA on a gorgeous summer afternoon.
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A Union Pacific intermodal train continues its way west across Sherman Hill as it pokes out of Hermosa Tunnel near the g...
07/22/2026

A Union Pacific intermodal train continues its way west across Sherman Hill as it pokes out of Hermosa Tunnel near the ghost town of Hermosa, WY along Union Pacific’sOverland Route.
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Eastbound manifest NS 18M is wasting absolutely zero time getting to Roanoke as it makes every bit of track speed throug...
07/20/2026

Eastbound manifest NS 18M is wasting absolutely zero time getting to Roanoke as it makes every bit of track speed through Wabun, VA with the brand new NS 2026 “Lady Liberty” and NS 250 “Freedom” America 250 units leading the way. To my knowledge, this is only their second revenue run since participating in the Union Pacific Big Boy’s East Coast tour.
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