Western Railroad Discussion > Expansion At East End Of BNSF's Denver Yard

On a very gloomy Mother's Day morning I met a friend for our weekly visit... While watching the BNSF 9249 East depart with another empty coal train going back to the Wyoming coal fields, it struck me that adjacent to the new RTD Transit line it looked to me BNSF is grading for a potential second main to extend eastward towards the UP crossing at Sand Creek.

Photo #1- BNSF 9249 departs Denver at Fox (Not to be confused with the UP-former DRGW- Fox Jct) in the Rennix Yard near 44th & Inca Streets.

Photo #2- As the pair of SD70-ACe DPUs disappear in the haze, you can see the grading along the BNSF main and the new bridge to lift the RTD tracks over the BNSF main as it swings north towards Thornton and Northglenn along the former Dent Branch. In the far distance you can see the engineer is looking at a high green for the UP crossing at Sand Creek.

Thanks for looking!

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

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Keep going East to Irondale. The west end of Irondale is being extended all the way to Rosemary. Its been a while, but last time I was out there, the new switch, signals and track were in. Work needs to be done at 88th ave.

Is the crossing at Sand Creek controlled by UP or BNSF? Good to see BNSF adding capacity.

Thank you in advance.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/18 07:27 by PRR_4859.

PRR_4859 Wrote:
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> Is the crossing at Sand Creek controlled by UP or
> BNSF? Good to see BNSF adding capacity.
>
> Thank you in advance.


UP

Union Pacific controls Sand Creek BNSF/UP diamond at Commerce City, Colorado.

mojaveflyer Wrote:
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> Thanks for looking!

Thank you for posting.

Things really seem to be happening in Denver with transportation. I'm impressed.

Jack

didn't someone say they are joining the UP - BNSF at irondale around 88th - 90th making a new connection



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/18 11:54 by dan.

From what someone told me, it sounds like Irondale siding is being extended westward.

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

dan Wrote:
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> didn't someone say they are joining the UP - BNSF
> at irondale around 88th - 90th making a new
> connection


Yes
UP wants to exercise their trackage rights.
I would have thought Sand Creek at the north side would have been easier but ADM owns that dirt. Must be proud of it.

UP wants to exercise which trackage rights on which sub? What trains would they run on it?

Where did you hear this? Just curious cause i haven’t heard anything about it.


> Yes
> UP wants to exercise their trackage rights.
> I would have thought Sand Creek at the north side
> would have been easier but ADM owns that dirt.
> Must be proud of it.

Posted from iPhone

I'm guessing it would be on the Brush Sub to Sterling and then back onto the UP to run to Julesburg. I'm betting UP it regretting severing the Julesburg Line between Union and La Salle. There's been talk of the UP wanting to run on the BNSF for years but the traffic hasn't been high enough to justify it.

wesleygreer Wrote:
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> UP wants to exercise which trackage rights on
> which sub? What trains would they run on it?

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

would love to see the line to julesburg get some action

crossing near kersey on the stub of the old line, that was recently installed but not used



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/18 06:13 by dan.

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BNSF would possibly love getting some UP relief down south near Palmer Lake in swap for some stuff up in the NE corner around Sterling. Maybe they should play "Let's Make A Deal".


SuperChiefDon

BN portion is recent construction and goes over the south platte UP portion is old think they are gearing up for sho flys, UP just established a maintenance yard by the york st crossing next to buildings that are getting demolished.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/18 17:59 by dan.

rantoul Wrote:
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> Part of this BNSF project may relate to a pending
> I-70 reconstruction. I-70 is going to be rebuilt
> below the surrounding elevation grade with parts
> covered by at-grade landscaped and commercial
> areas.

Where the BNSF tracks are wont be rebuilt, I-70 from Brighton Blvd to Colorado Blvd will all go underground, where the UP tracks go into the 36th yard will be rebuilt with the tracks going over the highway instead of under it. All the construction is for the RTD line



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/18 20:10 by mammothlacrosse.

Is the Julesburg Sub still intact and used at all? Trck looks old jointed rail and deferred maintenance, and old ABS signals?

Is this project finished?  What are the western limits of Irondale siding at this point?

Google Earth doesn't seem to show anything new.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/18 11:41 by sums007.