Western Railroad Discussion > UP PSR Kills Another Train

Unfortunately (for railfans, at least), UP's PSR has claimed another victim. For decades, at least one manifest has regularly run across the Rio Grande (or former Rio Grande) between Denver and Salt Lake City. For the past two decades, since the UP/SP merger, the train has been the MNYRO and MRONY. A manifest between North Yard (east end of the Grande) and Roper (west end of the Grande). With PSR, UP seems to have deemed Roper Yard (in Salt Lake) to be redundant to North Yard (the one in SLC) and Ogden. Sounds like UP plans to reduce operations at Roper and traffice between Denver and Salt Lake will now run through Ogden via the Overland Route.

The final MNYRO departed Denver this past Wednesday. Alas, it left after dark. The final MRONY departed Salt Lake yesterday and descended the Moffat this morning and early afternoon. I was thrilled I had the time to get out and get a few shots. The train was 108 cars and just north of 6,700 feet.

Where as the MNYRO and MRONY had been a thrice-weekly train, it would appear that UP will now run a thrice-weekly MNYGJ and MGJNY between North Yard in Denver and Grand Junction, CO. But it sounds as though UP manifest in the Utah Desert and over Solider Summit are now a thing of the past. Granted that decision could be reversed at any point...but for now.........

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1. An SD70ACe-T4 leads the final MRONY through a Form B on the main at Cliff (UP Moffat Tunnel Sub). A bridge over South Boulder Creek was replaced replaced by UP. While main construction is complete, MOW is still working on cleanup in the area.

2. The head end of the MRONY is getting close to the east end of Rocky, but there is no sign of the tail end in the frame just yet back at Little Ten Curve. Going to miss these massive manifests on the Moffat.

3. And lastly, a shot of the train as it passes by the intermediate signal at MP 14.5 west of Leyden.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

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Train count would be increasing (not decreasing) if this line was BNSF, as intended when built (Burlington-Rio Grande-Western Pacific).  The Feds screwed up.

I would really like to see BNSF get the former Rio Grande. I never understood why that didn't happen as a condition of UP mergers in the 1990s, much like KCS not getting the former SPCL between St Louis and Joliet (and trackage rights on CN from Joliet to Chicago).

It was an agreement between UP and Colorado. The limited details are in the STB document for the merger.

I think BNSF did get trackage rights between Denver and Stockton, CA, on ex-D&RGW and ex-WP.  How oftern do those trains run now?  Gerry

coach Wrote:
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> Train count would be increasing (not decreasing)
> if this line was BNSF, as intended when built
> (Burlington-Rio Grande-Western Pacific).  The
> Feds screwed up.

Why isn't BNSF running more trains now then?

Great set of photos. #2 reminds me of a trip the #1 son and I made to CP Rocky in 2003 and we captured a west bound manifest with a local shoving up the spur in the background. 

http://railpictures.net/photo/44438/ 

At least you captured the last move of that manifest on a very historic line!!
Again great pics!!! 

 

Phil Maton
Villa Rica, GA

Nice shots!  I really like those Tier 4 units. Hope BNSF buys more than the 10 they have on order.

Randy Lundgren
Elgin, TX

Great series Kevin. Glad you could catch it.

BB

While I don’t know how often they run, they do have rights on the former Rio Grande as well as the SP and WP from SLC to Stockton.

GPutz Wrote:
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> I think BNSF did get trackage rights between
> Denver and Stockton, CA, on ex-D&RGW and ex-WP. 
> How oftern do those trains run now?  Gerry

All UP SD70ACET4’s are currently being routed to North Platt,NB for long term storage. I think the new designation is to become SD70ACET4L (L) for lemon. Now I know why BNSF never ordered any.

Valleyman

texchief1 Wrote:
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> Nice shots!  I really like those Tier 4 units.
> Hope BNSF buys more than the 10 they have on
> order.
>
> Randy Lundgren
> Elgin, TX

UP will still run a manifest over Soldier Summit in each direction.

MROHP (Roper, UT - Helper, UT) Sa-Th
MHPOG (Helper, UT - Ogden, UT) daily

Andrew

ColoradoRailfan Wrote:
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> But it sounds as though UP manifest in the Utah Desert
> and over Solider Summit are now a thing of the
> past. Granted that decision could be reversed at
> any point...but for now.........

Thanks for the report, and nice catch of the EMD T4 leader.

MNYRO/MRONY were my "go to" trains whenever I visited Soldier Summit and Moffat Sub in the past. I'll miss them, especially on the Soldier Summit side. 

Source?

Valleyman Wrote:
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> All UP SD70ACET4’s are currently being routed to
> North Platt,NB for long term storage. I think the
> new designation is to become SD70ACET4L (L) for
> lemon. Now I know why BNSF never ordered any.
>
> Valleyman
>
> texchief1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Nice shots!  I really like those Tier 4 units.
> > Hope BNSF buys more than the 10 they have on
> > order.
> >
> > Randy Lundgren
> > Elgin, TX

From a couple UP people in the know!  Saw the unit assignment sheets myself. Someone can look up UP 3083 and 3014 and see for them selves. 

Valleyman

zorz Wrote:
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> Source?
>
> Valleyman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > All UP SD70ACET4’s are currently being routed
> to
> > North Platt,NB for long term storage. I think
> the
> > new designation is to become SD70ACET4L (L) for
> > lemon. Now I know why BNSF never ordered any.
> >
> > Valleyman
> >
> > texchief1 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Nice shots!  I really like those Tier 4
> units.
> > > Hope BNSF buys more than the 10 they have on
> > > order.
> > >
> > > Randy Lundgren
> > > Elgin, TX

Valleyman Wrote:
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> All UP SD70ACET4’s are currently being routed to
> North Platt,NB for long term storage. I think the
> new designation is to become SD70ACET4L (L) for
> lemon. Now I know why BNSF never ordered any.
>

Do you have a reliable source for that information on the T4s?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/18 10:22 by exhaustED.

Excellant report sir.   Thank you.

is it correct to therefore conclude that the only through general merchandise trains between Denver and Salt Lake on this DRGW route are now operated by BNSF?  And that BNSF has no local service rights; thus l8nited to “bridge traffic” between Denver and central California?   

Any locally originated or terminated general merchandise traffic along the DRGW ttacks must therefore be switched by the UP by DRGW locals and enter/exit the DRGW tracks via either local moves via Denver or Salt Lake.  Is this correct, or incorrect?

Your interpretation will be appreciated.  Jim Blaze

I heard UP will sell this line soon

That is incorrect.  BNSF has access to many of the customers on the former DRGW.  They serve some businesses around Rifle CO, east of Grand Jct, and some just west of Grand Jct; BNSF has a local that works out of here.  BNSF also had access, via Utah Ry, to some of the coal when it was loading around Helper.  In addition, BNSF serves numerous customers in the Provo-Salt Lake-Ogden metro areas.  The Utah Ry operates these areas for the BNSF, operating their locals out of Midvale and Provo UT.  BNSF also has a local that operates in the Reno area as well.

Jimblaze Wrote:
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> Excellant report sir.   Thank you.
>
> is it correct to therefore conclude that the only
> through general merchandise trains between Denver
> and Salt Lake on this DRGW route are now operated
> by BNSF?  And that BNSF has no local service
> rights; thus l8nited to “bridge traffic”
> between Denver and central California?   
>
> Any locally originated or terminated general
> merchandise traffic along the DRGW ttacks must
> therefore be switched by the UP by DRGW locals and
> enter/exit the DRGW tracks via either local moves
> via Denver or Salt Lake.  Is this correct, or
> incorrect?
>
> Your interpretation will be appreciated.  Jim
> Blaze

Valleyman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> All UP SD70ACET4’s are currently being routed to
> North Platt,NB for long term storage. I think the
> new designation is to become SD70ACET4L (L) for
> lemon. Now I know why BNSF never ordered any.
>
> Valleyman

It's sure seems like a big secret on how these units are operating.  There's been very little posted on here about problems, and I've seen a number of them out operating and haven't heard of any major issues (not that that would be a good scientific poll)...