Western Railroad Discussion > An Unsuccessful But Successful Day

Yesterday, myself, TO member "wheelnrail", and two of our friends visiting from Illinois were down in Southern Colorado to try and get the BNSF ballast train was gonna run over the Raton Subdivision over Raton Pass. However, once again the train got pushed back to today. And of course, it did run... However, we were able to make it a successful day even though it was also a failure. We started out in La Junta then followed the Raton Subdivision for 78 miles to Trinidad. From there, we grabbed lunch and headed north back to Pueblo. We then followed the Joint Line north and ended our day in Denver. 

• CitiRail ES44AC No. 1410 leads two BNSF units on the Pueblo, Colorado to Amarillo, Texas manifest through the small town of Swink, Colorado along BNSF's Pueblo Subdivision just west of La Junta.
• Running a few minutes late, Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief races along US-HWY 350 at 79 MPH just south of Timpas, Colorado at Jack's Point on BNSF's Raton Subdivision. 

=14pxSome more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

---

---

---

• DOT U30C No. 001 at the Pueblo Railway Museum next to the Pueblo Union Depot near the BNSF/UP yards in Pueblo.
• At Monument, the first of two coal loads approaches the new Baptist Road overpass with a pair of SD70ACe's leading.
• The sun breaks out as the second coal empty works up the grade just south of Greenland on Main 1 along the Joint Line.

Some more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

---

---

---

• The same coal load rolls on through the "sag" at Spruce as the train approaches the last intermediate before the double track ends at Palmer Lake.
• The coal load begins its descent down the Palmer Divide as the train rounds the curve at Palmer Lake.
• The DPU's bring up the rear of the coal loads as it heads south into Monument.

A couple more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

---

---

---

• Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr lays over at Denver Union Station as an outbound RTD A-Line train departs the station for Denver International Airport.
• Closing out the day at Denver Union Station after a pretty neat day and a great dinner in the station. Till next time...

Thanks for looking!

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

---

---

Nice set, John!

Several goodies with the storm clouds.  Thanks John

Very nice stuff, John. Your series from the other day of Amtrak on Raton was superb, makes me want to get out there.

Thanks for sharing,
Ryan

Excellent work!

Cheers,
Jack

outstanding pics.  the aces are my favorites.........

66

Very NICE series of shots!

Larry

VERY NICE....!!

​Pic 6 is one of my favorites!!

Great pics!!  Love #2

Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr lays over at Denver Union Station as an outbound RTD A-Line train departs the station for Denver International Airport.

Is that the A-line train leaving? I thought the airport trains were on the tracks next to the station. Could the train seen be a test train on one of the lines to be opened later this year?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/16 18:23 by Cumbresfan.