Western Railroad Discussion > UP Fort Collins Local today

It was cement plant day today for the UP LaSalle-Fort Collins, CO Local, which crossed BNSF at the diamond in Fort Collins and went north to the Boettcher switch, then backed the loads up the steep spur to the Holcim Cement Plant loadout north of LaPorte. This plant used to produce cement, now mining operations have stopped and this facility is largely empty, but functions as a loadout for cement brought in mainly from Florence, CO. The consist was not the usual assigned locomotives on this beautiful autumn day, time for a short chase both directions with lunch in between.

Photo 1 - The big four-motor consist struggles to shove the heavy cut of loaded cement cars into the cement plant, wheels are slipping and grinding after the necessary stop for the conductor around the curve on the front of the cut to dismount and throw the derail and switch.

Photo 2 - Returning back to Fort Collins with empties and the locomotive consist reversed, here crossing the old trestle over the Cache La Poudre River which recently flooded but was not as bad as waterways farther south.

Happy autumn railfanning! === === = === JLH



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/13 18:08 by highgreengraphics.

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The hill is really steep. Tripled the hill once with 7 cars and a caboose, one geep (no sand) in the rain.... Google earth works it out at 2% but towards the derail it has to be much steeper. I am guessing 3-4%.... It used to be coal up and cement down, now its cement up and empties down...Oh how times changes things.... Followed the abandoned line all the way to the end once, lots of abandoned rail history up there near and around Virginia Dale (and east) DL&NW, CC, and UP............

Great pictures!



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/13 17:04 by jc76.

Another great pair of photos and I am a true fan of trestle shots.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Is the SD40-2 era over on the Ft. Collins local:{ Nice catch on "flagless flare" UP 4722!

Thanks for the nice words - note that the wood trestle over the Poudre, although it stood mightily against the flood debris, still has that same soft low spot right under the front truck. As shown here on an earlier thread, it was shimmed, But on top the rail still looks kinked and it still visibly sinks when the heavy units go over the spot. Will need more work! === === = === JLH

Sweet!!

I LIKE Pic 1!!!

Great shots. I especially like #2. Great catch on that one.

Ronda Thomas