Western Railroad Discussion > A Day In Northern Colorado: GWR and BNSF

Today, me, Max Wipperman (MaximumRails), Chase Kepner, and Kirk Orndorff decided to meet up in Loveland to see what the Great Western Railway was up to. Max picked me up in Longmont at around 9am and we decided to stop by the depot/yard area to see what was going on. Apparently the Valmont Coal Power came to Longmont to wye their power and headed for Boulder to assemble their empty coal train. In the mean time, the Longmont Switch was about their normal duties in the East Yard with BNSF 1791 and BNSF 1933. However, the Buck Local power was sitting along 1st Avenue. Power for the Buck today was BNSF 1966 and BNSF 8113, a nice looking pair of ex BN units. After getting some shots here, we headed North for Loveland. Once we arrived into Loveland, we heard the GW1 Local switching so we headed to their yard. When we got onto Madison Avenue, Chase and Kirk arrived at the same time with the local switching at the East end of the yard. After waiting for them to build their train, we raced off to outside of Loveland to catch them leaving the city limits of Loveland as they headed East towards Kelim and Johnstown. After grabbing two shots off before they crossed I-25, we kinda ran into a problem. One of our vehicles got stuck in a snow bank off the road, but thanks to some help, we got out fine. Afterwards, we raced East to catch up with the train. Luckily track speed is only 10 MPH and we caught up with the train between Kelim and Johnstown. After getting some shots in between the towns. We beat the train to Johnstown to find out they set their train out on the main line and ran lite on the Southwest leg of the wye onto the old Welty Branch. We followed them to find an ex UTAH Railway SD35 hooked up to at least 100 empty coal hoppers that have been stored here for some unknown reason. What their plan was to push the cars further back more to get more room for more cars to be stored. After having air issues and major wheel slip, the train kept pulling forward and then doing reverse moves. With the track condition extremely poor and broken rail joints, it didn't make this task really easy. After working for a couple of hours, they got half of the train where they needed to put it. However with no extra power, they could not make the hill. As a result, they cut crossings and left the train their. Afterwards, the power uncoupled and followed each other into town and went their separate ways. After seeing the Great Western, we headed towards Fort Collins. The time was after 2pm and we headed North. After taking different roads and such, we made it just in time to catch the Longmont Switch depart Fort Collins and head down through downtown right in the middle of Mason Street. After catching the local, we headed to North Yard to only find the other Great Western local working around North Yard with a Hudson Bay and Omnitrax Geep. After that, we grabbed a bite to eat at Chipotle and we headed home. Overall, it was a pretty successful day.

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1) Max Wipperman has just taken his shot of the Buck Local power which is today BNSF 1966 and BNSF 8113 in Longmont. The reason he has a safety jacket is because he volunteers on a railroad back in Iowa and he wears this when working, but today, with the weather, it might as well work for this as well.

2) After assembling their train in Loveland, Local GW1 powered by an SD9 leave the town of Loveland as they begin their days work on the numerous branch lines and industries the Great Western Railway of Colorado serves.

3) Leaving Loveland Local GW1 trundles along a country road on their way to Kelim and eventually Johnstown with a cut of cars for the UP and a couple of branch lines in the area at a place called Birds.


There's plenty more after this break...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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Okay the break is over...

4) Running at it's full horsepower, this EMD SD9 in Northwestern Pacific colors struggles up hill as they approach the town of Johnstown.

5 and 6) Working together, an SD9 and SD35 push 115 empty coal hoppers on the Welty Branch with the Rocky Mountains in the background and Longs Peak as well.



And more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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7) A lone ex Utah Railway EMD SD35 trundles down VERY worn out track that is part of the old Welty Branch in Johnstown.

8) After working with OMLX 4327 with a cut of 115 coal hoppers on the Welty Branch, an ex Utah Railway SD35 comes into the town of Johnstown.

9) After working with Local GW2 with a cut of empty coal hoppers on the Welty Branch, OMLX 4327 finally grabs their cars and heads on the wye into Johnstown to perform some work orders.

Two more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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10) After doing work at North Yard, the Longmont Switch heads south through downtown Fort Collins right down the middle of Mason Street.

11) Working another typical day at North Yard in Fort Collins, OSS 4285 and HBR 3600 reverse back to the yard to grab a cut of cars for the UP.

Thanks for looking!

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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Here is my shots... Shots not in order of taken, just posted.

1) A roster shot of OMLX 4327 EMD SD9 originally built for the SP as their 4327, then on to the NWP RR (Northwest Pacific) also as their 4327.

2) The train heads east almost to I-25. (This is where we had our little mishap).

3) The train rounding a curve just North (RR Timetable west) of Johnstown, CO. The whole train can be seen from here.


Don't worry, there is more to come!

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4) A group shot of the chasers.

5) OMLX 4327 and it's train head up the hill outside of Johnston, CO in Notch 6 at a slow pace. Man, that 567 prime mover sounded good!

6) OMLX 4327 cut off the train, and is heading to work with OMLX 2959 and try to move some coal hoppers, but sadly, that failed.

More to come....Again!

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7) The SD9 heads down the Welty Branch to the 2959.

8) After the failed attempt to grab the hoppers, 4327 pulls the train ahead to switch. While 2959 heads to Kelm for Thursday's Blade train.

9) The R-COL4211-28F heads south along Mason Street....Soon this shot won't be possible.

That is all! Be safe out there, don't get in them red zones.

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WOW, what a great set of images, thanks for posting all of them. You should get a Pic of the day with one of them!

Memorable day with friends and nice Great Western Railway variety. The snow helped, too!

Enjoy the holidays, gents!

Thanks guys! It sure was memorable day, that was the first time I had railfanned the Great Western. Great experience!