Western Railroad Discussion > Poudre Trestle doins, crane and old horse

Finally, UP is doing some work to the sagging, sinking wood trestle over the Cache La Poudre River in Fort Collins, CO. It was getting to the point that even a layman could see the urgency of doing some serious work to it.

Photo 1 - On July 28, the UP Local from LaSalle returns from the Holcim, now Holcim-LaFarge cement loadout north of Fort Collins, CO, trying the new steel I-beam piles being constructed under the Cache La Poudre River trestle in the main course of the river.

Photo 2 - Today, a UP Bridge and Building gang American crane that was also the pile driver is reflected in the placid Cache La Poudre River as it lifts the bridge over the steel piling crossmembers so wedges and shims can be inserted to even the rails on top of the deck.

Photo 3 - Discussing strategy, one dedicated B&B employee with rubber waders is in the river looking upward.

There's mooore...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/15 19:56 by highgreengraphics.

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Photo 4 -  Looking at the crane on top of the deck and the track slightly out of line as the B&B people work the day away.

Photo 5 - At North Yard, GNAX 1, an SW-1 from the Holcim-LaFarge Cement Plant in Florence, CO, awaits interchange to UP which is supposed to deliver it to the Fort Collins Holcim Cement loadout tomorrow. AAR reporting mark GNAX is listed as belonging to Holcim, Inc. This diminutive SW-1 was constructed in 6-1939 as FW&D 604, then CB&Q 9138, then served at Dundee cement, the detailed history posted by me before on TO.  EMD was not formed until 1941, from EMC and Winton, so by date this actually is an EMC SW-1. Older than many steam locomotives (For example, UP 844 was built in 1944), egads, imagine all of the times around the sun and all the ways the world has changed since 1939, some on TO know, but I am far too young to understand even at my advancing age except for what I read in school books...

Photo 6 - Today, this unlikely lineup of motive power could be seen at North Yard in Fort Collins, consisting of GNAX 1, the ancient 1939-built SW-1, then CP 9374, an ES44AC, BNSF 7299, an ES44DC, and OMLX 9522 and 9570, both ex-CN GP40-2LW's. Yes, the single-note horn that fit centered on the front of the cab was swiped at some point, it was already missing in Florence, CO when I saw it early this year.

So, tomorrow is the usual day for UP to go north of Fort Collins to Boettcher and the Holcim Cement plant loadout north of LaPorte, CO, and one would have to surmise that this ancient little locomotive will be tucked behind the UP power, and will trundle over the UP Cache La Poudre trestle on the way up to the cement plant loadout. As stated, Holcim Cement and LaFarge Cement just merged, which may have something to do with the movement of this senior locomotive. They could let a small army of us railfans swarm the cab and carbody for a month, and we could certainly clean it up and make it look good, "Everywhere West" and "Way of the Zephyrs" stencils would certainly be called for! === === = === JLH



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/15 22:41 by highgreengraphics.

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highgreengraphics Wrote:
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> Photo 2 - Today, a UP Bridge and Building
> gang American crane

It's an OHIO Locomotive Crane. American Hoist & Derrick Co. (Locomotive Crane Division) in St. Paul, Minnesota and the Ohio Locomotive Crane Co. in Bucyrus, Ohio merged in 1987 as American & Ohio Locomotive Crane Co.  In 2001, ERS Industries, Inc. purchased the American & Ohio Locomotive Crane Co.  ERS Industries, Inc. is now the owner and OEM for both, American & Ohio Locomotive Cranes. See: www.aolcrane.com

Bob Callahan
Monticello, IN

The EMC SW-1 is worthy of a complete restoration to original FW&D or CB&Q paint. Were the full frame mounted handrails put on later - by the cement company? Except for that it looks like it could be in original factory built condition. Is the original prime mover still working? A well qualified 501c-3 group could get this little gem on the National Register and apply for funding to help restore it. Don't let some circus outfit have it though. 
Thanks much for posting this! Steve Rippeteau



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/15 05:56 by railscenes.