Western Railroad Discussion > Southern Colorado and the Joint Line Yesterday

Yesterday, I decided to get out of the house for the day and went for a drive. My drive took me to Southern Colorado where I explored from Pueblo - La Junta - Trinidad and back north to Pueblo through Spanish Peaks Country. From there I followed the Joint Line back home. There wasn't much going on until I got to La Junta, but activity was pretty much quiet as some trains were parked in the yard. After filling up, I took US-350 and followed the Raton Sub to Trinidad. On the way, I noticed stored cars at Timpas, Minderman, Delhi, a MOW gang dumping ties at Simpson, and hopper cars with ties at Model. After grabbing lunch in Trinidad, I took I-25 back north towards Walsenburg where I eventually ran into a vehicle train. I followed the train pretty much back north to Pueblo and up the Joint Line. Before going home I ended up catching a couple more trains on the Joint Line.

1) Stored autoracks fill the siding at Delhi along BNSF's Raton Subdivision.

2) A northbound vehicle train from Clovis, New Mexico enters the junction at Walsenburg with the Spanish Peaks in the background.

3) The same train can be seen racing north through Lascar.

Some more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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4) A southbound coal load led by a "kit-bash" Pre-Production GEVO and an SD70MACe makes good time south of Fountain.

5) A northbound coal empty enters a pocket of sunshine as the train climbs that last part of the grade to the Palmer Divide at Palmer Lake.

6) Following right behind the coal empty is the same vehicle train I caught along the Spanish Peaks Sub between Walsenburg and Pueblo. The train is seen rounding the curve into Palmer Lake.

Thanks for looking!

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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#2 is outstanding!! Great Job!!

Great bunch. Nice effort at Lascar, that's a LONG drive on that dirt road to get there.
JB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/17 11:27 by 3rdswitch.

Seems like its been a while since you posted John ( but it could be me just not paying close attention! ) Personally I have missed your work. Absolutely great shots. Love those of the Spanish peaks. Thank you!

2 and 3 are awesome!

Great series John! Really lucked out with the Sun in #5!

wow! Number 3 is an epic shot with/out a train. Love the wigwag too

FrontRangeTrains Wrote:
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> 4) A southbound coal load led by a "kit-bash"
> Pre-Production GEVO and an SD70MACe makes good
> time south of Fountain.
>

Super pics! Can you explain the "kit-bash" loco? What are the distinguishing marks or is it just the loco number that reveals its legacy?

Pre production units have slightly different appearance. Also note the wrong long hood on it. Swoosh hood with cigar band nose.

es44fan Wrote:
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> #2 is outstanding!! Great Job!!

AGREED...!!

Love number 3!

Also love #2 and #3!

Very NICE series! Glad to see Delhi wig-wag is still in operation.

Larry

Nice shots in some lonely country down there... === === = === JLH

Really great series of photos.

Ronda Thomas

Really like that Lascar shot, nice! Twin Peaks really stand out with snow on them.

I like the lighting in photo #5.
John