Western Railroad Discussion > Joint Line "Action" - Big Lift Snoot

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/17 15:52 by Ween.

Nice shot. I'd say REopened, as Big Lift has been around since the 1970's... === === = === JLH

That was the unit at Jansen to load the coal. BNSF had to RePO it. Weren't paying the bills. Went to KC, then back to BigLift.

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Thanks and good point.  From what I understand, it was initially an intermodal facility for the ATSF and then later served as a transload facility.  With their auto facility in Irondale reaching capacity, BNSF swapped locations with the former owner of Big Lift in mid-2014...

highgreengraphics Wrote:
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> Nice shot. I'd say REopened, as Big Lift has been
> around since the 1970's... === === = === JLH

Ween Wrote:
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> Or more like "inaction."  This morning was the
> first time that I've been up by BNSF's Big Lift
> Automotive Facility in Littleton, CO where the
> snoot-nose SD40-2 wasn't at work, front-coupled
> and shuffling racks.  Instead it was parked in
> the open and in full view of US HWY 85 and begging
> to be lens'd.  This unit was built as UP 8042 in
> mid-1976, and, as far as I know, has been at Big
> Lift since the facility opened in mid-2014.
>
> If you ever want to get a shot from the highway
> here, I've pushed-to-test with the Highway
> Patrol.  As soon as I pulled over and came to a
> stop, a trooper pulled in behind me to see if I
> was okay (or, more likely, what I was up to). 
> When I told him I just wanted a shot of the red
> unit over there and pointed to my camera next to
> me, he told me that it's fine to park on the
> shoulder like this, wished me a good day, and took
> off.
>
> Chris

Is that area still a narrow two lane road, or have they improved any of the 20 miles of so out to Castle Rock?  That route was a double edged sword for many years,  Narrow two lane highway often as nto without a shoulder, but it followed the two main liens of the Joint Line.   One day a freind and I were headed south and got behind a older couple out for a sunday drive, at about 35 mph.  As the line grew and grew, I kept watch for a place I could safely pass.  The pressure was on due to the volume of cars behind us and especially since the first car was a Colorado State Patrol!  Finally, a lull in opposing traffic at the right spot, and I zoomed around the couple and headed on as fast as I legally could.  I wasn't far before the patrol office turned on his lights and pulled the couple over.  I am sure there were many drivers behind him ever so grateful to get a clear road ahead.

Rob

improvements have been made it will be all 4 lane before long i imagine

Nice catch and properly positioned for your shot.

Yes Big Lift was orginally build as an intermodal facility, you are correct.

> Is that area still a narrow two lane road, or have
> they improved any of the 20 miles of so out to
> Castle Rock?  That route was a double edged sword
> for many years,  Narrow two lane highway often as
> nto without a shoulder, but it followed the two
> main liens of the Joint Line.   One day a freind
> and I were headed south and got behind a older
> couple out for a sunday drive, at about 35 mph.
>  As the line grew and grew, I kept watch for a
> place I could safely pass.  The pressure was on
> due to the volume of cars behind us and especially
> since the first car was a Colorado State Patrol!
>  Finally, a lull in opposing traffic at the right
> spot, and I zoomed around the couple and headed on
> as fast as I legally could.  I wasn't far before
> the patrol office turned on his lights and pulled
> the couple over.  I am sure there were many
> drivers behind him ever so grateful to get a clear
> road ahead.
>
> Rob

its 4 lanes from C470 to Louviers now, then it goes back to 2 lanes there is a brief 4 lanes section by Sedalia then it goes back to 2 lanes and there is new road work past Happy Canyon Rd.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/16 19:55 by mammothlacrosse.