Western Railroad Discussion > Raton sub happenings

End of December they ran a test train up over the hill to fetch a lone rail car. Some last minutes stuff, but no test cars.

Last week a Sunflower Electric empty heads west to Trinidad so it can go north to the mines:) Seen at East Timpas with another foamer on his lucky day. Had Illinois tags......

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Leaving Mindeman,
And Delhi.

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Then today they ran another in daylight. Usually they go at night.
MP 565 with a fresh batch of tumbleweeds.

Leaning into the curve at East Mindeman.

DP leaving Mindeman.

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Nice catch! What is the future of this line? Any forecast of traffic increases? The ROW seems to be in good shape.

A frickin wig wag wow.......

Sweet stuff, SD45X. Really digging the shot with the cantilever and at the Delhi wigwag. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome catches D.
JB

Very NICE Shots all around, especially with the wig-wag and old cantilever signals.

Larry

I believe BNSF has a connection from La Junta to Pueblo. How I wish they could run trains over Tennessee Pass to the SF Bay Area, if the traffic warranted it, and if the Transcon was just too impacted. If some Northern California trains could be routed that way, the northern passenger line from La Junta east would have greater purpose. It would be great.

That is like "Twilight Zone" stuff. Modern power, old signals and a Wig Wag. Wonderful photos.

Great stuff from my old stomping grounds, I sure do miss Colorado. Thanks for sharing.

Frank

Enjoyed the series D. Too many sparsely trained main lines around CO these days.

T

haven't seen a post from you in a while Darren! Nice shots, especially the cantilever

Really great photos. Especially #4 getting the entire train.

Ronda Thomas

Shot #4 is a Great location! Also like that CREX going away picture.

Nice catches for sure, D! :]

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

coach Wrote:
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> I believe BNSF has a connection from La Junta to
> Pueblo. How I wish they could run trains over
> Tennessee Pass to the SF Bay Area, if the traffic
> warranted it, and if the Transcon was just too
> impacted. If some Northern California trains
> could be routed that way, the northern passenger
> line from La Junta east would have greater
> purpose. It would be great.

yea, wouldn't that be nice. who knows, it could happen........

66

Thank you for the nice views of rare operations! === === = === JLH

Your pictures and information is always appreciated.

Don G

Re. #2 - down near the bottom of the Raton grade approaching Trinidad the second track abruptly ends in a missing bridge over a small creek with a sign "bridge out" or similar. How long it has been missing and the circumstances of its demise are unknown by me. But last fall when I rode the Chief I remember looking at the red signals and thinking what a mess it would be of some dispatcher put a train over on that track. But I know that wouldn't happen as the only regular trains on the line are Amtrak with engineers who know the territory.