Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF and UP power work together today

Today, 3 trains in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming had mixed consists of UP and BNSF locomotives working together.

​Photo 1 - Early this morning, a wind turbine tower unit train leaves Mason St. at Cherry St. in downtown Fort Collins, CO with BNSF power leading UP power. They surround the street with tracks in the middle with new condos just to see how much people can complain, or so it would seem, and train speed on the street now is a cool 25 mph instead of the 10 mph it used to be before the improvements to Mason St.

​Photo 2 - The northbound wind turbine tower train is approaching Owl Canyon Siding north of Wellington, CO.

​Photo 3 - Winding around the hillsides approaching Speer, WY.

There's mooore...

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Photo 4 - Widening out, even this big train looks miniscule in the vastness of the countryside. That's the UP Denver main visible in the foreground, which the ex-C&S BNSF passes under.

​Photo 5 - Rumbling over the C&S Bridge at West Cheyenne, wonder how many times the UP engines have passed by beneath...

​Photo 6 - Inbound comes a Granite ballast load from Granite, WY located on UP with a UP newly-rebuilt small-winged SD40-2 leading the otherwise-ample 3 BNSF units for cab signals in UP CCS Territory, this unit a surprise as the regular EMD Ace that has been assigned was left idle at the BNSF yard. It is on the Transfer track leading from UP's Track 1 to the BNSF yard, passing the original powerhouse for Cheyenne, which predates even the State Capitol building, originally used to power the Cheyenne Street Railway trolley system. It has been neglected for many years. In the distance rages bands, cheering, fireworks and fake gunfire as the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo continues for the week, even though at the moment it is threatening to rain.

​There's mooore...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/16 21:00 by highgreengraphics.

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Photo 7 - After wyeing the pilot rebuilt SD40-2, in short order it is coupled onto a waiting Granite empty train at the ex-C&S yard, and after air brake tests here it is with two other BNSF units whistling the opposite direction down the Cheyenne Transfer Track. This photo is adjacent to the old power plant, with remnants of a railroad siding coal dump pit to power the powerhouse still in place.

​Photo 8 - Hurrying out of Cheyenne beneath the C&S Bridge, the standard-cab SD40-2 looks nice leading the two wide-cab units glowering down on it, not many places one can see that sight. And a clean one with mini-wings yet!

​Photo 9 - Rounding the great curve approaching Borie, WY, walking right up Sherman Hill.

There's mooore...

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Photo 10 - Arriving at Granite, WY between signals.

​Photo 11 - Diverging off Track 1 to go to the ballast pit tipple at Granite. And yes, this is on an embankment next to a very big valley!

...And time for me to go home, happy UP-BNSF railfanning! === === = === JLH 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/16 21:02 by highgreengraphics.

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Looks like a fun train to chase, nice pics

GOOD stuff....!!  Thanks.....

Fantastic catch on that "baby wing" SD40-2 leading the ballast train! Great series of shots all around.

Woohoo!  Glad you got both of them!