Western Railroad Discussion > The Southland--Colorado's Pueblo Sub

7256 South

Making its way south on the Directional Running geographically east of Pueblo is a BNSF manifest with 7236, 4910 and RDPU 6853. The head end of the train consists of former Amtrak high speed mechanical reefers that have come out of the Colorado's San Luis Valley. The train just west of the former ATSF depot at Manzanola, Colorado at mile post 583.1 on the Pueblo Subdivision, Powder River Division. Before arriving at this location the dispatcher had the train stop at County Road 8 where it was met by four fire engines as passers by had reported a flatcar on fire. No fire was found and the fire trucks returned to their quarters and the train proceed to La Junta. 10:30 am

5779 South

Following on the heels of 7256 South is this loaded coal train bound for Texas. BNSF 5779, 9321, RDPU's 8405 and 6277 is running compass direction east on the BNSF's southbound directional running mainline. This grade crossing is County Road 8 about midway between Fowler and Manzanola, Colorado at milepost 580 Pueblo Subdivision, Powder River Division. 10:59am

9262 South

BNSF 9262, 5956, RDPU's 6069 and 9007 a southbound coal load make there way through NA Junction at milepost 591.6 Pueblo Subdivision, Powder River Division.
NA Junction was originally known as NA Crossing and came into existence in 1887 when the Pueblo and State Line (Missouri Pacific) reached the location and built an at grade level crossing. The crossing was protected with by a manned interlocking tower called NA Tower which was later automated. In 1969 the ATSF and MP rationalized their parallel mainlines between NA Junction and Pueblo Junction. Between NA Junction and the north switch of Avondale the former MP route is used, it is currently owned and maintained by Union Pacific, from the west switch to Pueblo Junction the former ATSF route is used. With the sale of former MP line to the State of Colorado, NA Junction marked the west end of the Towner Line currently under litigation. Between Pueblo Junction and NA Junction the line is CTC controlled by BNSF Dispatcher 16 in Fort Worth.

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Great pics Larry! I remember several wonderful trips with you on this line, and I look forward to doing it again in the coming year. Didn't you tell me the ex-MP section is woefully undermaintained by the Yellow Cancer, and a lot of it is 10mph? What does that do to the PUE-LAJ running time?

JT

UP has sent some track gangs down there

Nice pics!!

In a situation like this, why doesn't BNSF just buy the line?

Because the Yellow Cancer dispatches this portion and more importantly the single track portion of the Join Line, and it's sworn corporate policy to screw the BNSF as badly as they can conceive of in their twisted little brains with these two sections of railroad. That's the short answer.