Western Railroad Discussion > A Day on the Overland Route

Yesterday, a close friend and I decided to spend a day along part of UP's Laramie Subdivision west of Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was an emotional day the day before as it was my father's funeral, so getting out for the day trackside definitely help. Overall it was a great day out on the hill between Cheyenne and Laramie and points north towards Medicine Bow. The weather was pleasant as well, with a light breeze most of the day and the temperatures ranging from the 50s - 60s.

• After getting a new North Platte crew, an eastbound stack train races east on Main 1 as it rounds the big sweeping curve on Archer Hill east of Cheyenne. 
• UP SD40N No. 2000 leads the Wycon Job west out of Cheyenne on Track 2 as the train approaches Southwest Drive at CP W511.
• On the other side of Sherman Hill, a 2x2x1 eastbound Z-Train bound for Global II at Proviso in Chicago climbs the grade on Track 3 near Red Buttes.

There's more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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• The same Z-Train last seen at Red Buttes climbs the grade up Track 3 at Hermosa.
• About 15-minutes behind the Z-Train, an eastbound grain train races up the hill at Hermosa on Track 2.
• A couple minutes later, another eastbound intermodal races east up Track 3 at Hermosa.

There's more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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• A pair of SD70Ms leads a unit train of empty tank cars and an empty coke hopper up Track 3 at Perkins. The train was empty "Hot Asphalt" tank cars, two LPG tank cars, and the empty coke car, and it was symboled UCYLM (Cheyenne-Laramie).
• About 20-miles north of Laramie lies the ghost town of Bosler. The MNPRO (North Platte-Roper manifest) races west into Bosler with a single GE leading.
• The MRVNP (Roseville-North Platte manifest) races east with a GEVO and patched SP AC4400CW as the train blows for the crossing in Bosler.

There's more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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• A little while later, a 10,000ft long MGRDV (Green River-Denver manifest) races east through Bosler. 
• Just north of Laramie, the MGRDV is seen racing alongside US-287/US-30. The train will stop in Laramie to make a pickup. However, due to the train's length, the train will have to be split in two at Laramie because of a train length limit along the Greeley Sub to Denver.
• A few miles west of Cheyenne, the MRVNP previously seen at Bosler is seen descending the grade down Sherman Hill as the MNPPT (North Platte-Pocatello manifest) is seen in the background on Track 3 heading west.

Some more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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Great series John! Love the shot at Perkins and pictures 12, 13 and 15 are Fantastic!

• The first of two westbound Z-Trains climbs the grade up towards Sherman Hill at Borie as the sun sets in the western sky of Southeastern Wyoming.
• A little while later, the second Z-Train heads west up the grade between Cheyenne and Borie. That's the Dyno Noble refinery in the background at the railroad location of Wycon.
• As soon as the Z-Train clears and continues to climb the hill, a lite power move races down the grade just west of Wycon.

Thanks for looking!

*EDIT

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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Great stuff as always. Love the monster Z near Red Butte and the Perkins shot.

T

eatontm sez:
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> Great stuff as always. Love the monster Z near Red
> Butte and the Perkins shot.
>
Dittos.  Thanks for sharing.

Well played, Sir!

Cheers,
Jack

Outstanding!!!

Thank you so much for the photos and the detailed captions. You just brightened my day! 😊

Posted from iPhone

Killer shots, makes me want to get back there bad!

Posted from Android

Fantastic series of photos, John. 

Ryan

Excellent work, John! Thanks for sharing.

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

VERY NICE...!!  Thanks for posting.

Nice Series!

SouthWest RailCams
CA, NM, CO, TX, AZ
https://SouthWestRailCams.com

Super series of photos, John. Thanks for posting.

Paul Brennecke
Golden, CO

Every time I see the picture of that Truss Bridge it reminds me of the original LIONEL 313 bridge they made going back into the thirties. Ah yes, memories.

Jim
​Hatboro, PA

Fantastic series of photos.

Ronda Thomas