Western Railroad Discussion > Visiting Tennessee Pass

In June, my friend and I decided to come home from a work session in Antonito, CO, with the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec by way of Tennessee Pass and the Georgetown Loop, as opposed to the same-old Alamosa to I-25 and up.

This was going to be his first time along most of the line and my first time there since a couple months before the line shut down, when I was 6 (the last train was the day before my 7th birthday). It was a picture-perfect day to be in the mountains, temperatures in the upper-60s and a light layer of clouds that disappeared as the day went on.

Photo 1:
I've seen video from my dad at this spot at Malta, as the line to Leadville shoots off to the right.

Photo 2:
We're at the summit now, looking towards the tunnel, where I saw my first eastbound top the grade when I was 5. I love all the joints on the siding.

Photo 3:
An eastbound train's view of the same scene. Fading, graffiti, and missing signal heads were set to become a theme.

Let's start heading down the 3%!
~wko

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Photo 4:
A view looking at the tunnel at the summit.

Photo 5:
The highway shot at Mitchell. 

Photo 6:
From the highway bridge at Pando. Note the bushes have taken over at the house track.

I wanna go in at West Pando!
~wko

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Photos 7, 8, and 9:
West Pando.

This is where I took the shot that was the subject of this thread. My dad said West Pando was the location they shot at the most, his favorite spot on the pass.

Downward still!
~wko

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Photo 10:
An overview at East Belden.

Photo 11:
Zoomed in of the same view.

Photo 12:
I believe this is looking down at West Belden.

Into Minturn we go!
~wko

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Photo 13:
I don't know how, but the signal at East Minturn was illuminated red!

Photo 14:
East Minturn, looking towards the pass.

Photo 15:
The boulder residing on the main at East Minturn.

There's a lot to see here!
~wko

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Photos 16, 17, and 18:
Exploring the boulders at East Minturn. The boots and jeans that got "crushed" by the boulder has turned into a clown, complete with a memorial. For size comparison, I took a picture with the boulder on the main, pictures don't do it justice...I'm 6' 1". And what's harder to believe: the boulder that crushed both tracks is bigger!

Time to head into town.
~wko

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Photos 19, 20, and 21:
The east end of the yard at Minturn. I vaguely remember seeing all the SP and UP GEs moving around here in my 2 visits when I was 5 and 6.

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Photo 22:
At West Minturn, there's been another boulder slide onto the tracks. This one's a bit more manageable.

Photo 23:
Looking west out of the yard. This is arguably the worst-looking spot on the whole line, and it's right in town.

Photo 24:
The signals departing the yard at West Minturn. They sure have a lot of character, even if they're mostly gone. Oh the things they've seen!

And with that, we headed down the mountain for home after our 9-day trip. Due to how long we spent exploring TP, we missed what we were going for of the Georgetown Loop, so that continues to elude me, but I won't complain.

My thoughts on the line as a whole: I thought the line was surprisingly good in areas where it was seperated from the water. The east side of the pass in the valley is probably good for 20 mph right now as shocking as that might seem. Unfortunately, the areas near the water would take a lot of work, tree removal, and more. I could see this becoming something super-slow, like a one train per day kind of thing, but I'd be stunned if it ever became a mainline again. Even if the one-a-day thing did happen, it's a long ways out.

Thanks for looking (and reminiscing!), hope you enjoyed!
~wko

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Lionshead Rock made quite a 'dent' in the former D&RGW Tennessee Pass Line-!

Great series Kirk. Reminds me of my dad and I trout fishing on the pass 50 years ago.

BB

Sad.    Memories!
Tom Klinger

The STB should force a sale of this line to BNSF or some other interested party.  

is that krusty the clown under the boulder?

Kirk,
Thanks for the look back.  Those pictures are very depressing to me however, especially considering I never made it to the Pass.


Kent in CArmel Valley

Tennessee Pass was by far one of the most beautiful and torturous rail lines in the World. Glad I was able to get back there before the closure. Great shots of some of the best areas on the Pass.

MEKoch Wrote:
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> The STB should force a sale of this line to BNSF
> or some other interested party.  

There is already an STB provision that would allow a financially responsible party to acquire the line.
The fact that there have been no applications in two decades should answer your question as to the availability of other interested parties.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/19 14:38 by prrmpup.

prrmpup Wrote:
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> There as as already an STB provision that would
> allow a financially responsible party to acquire
> the line.
> The fact that there have been no applications in
> two decades should answer your question as to the
> availability of other interested parties.

WKO, thanks for sharing your pictures. It is really sad to see such a route in wait for trains which never will come.

I'd like to buy TP myself, but I have to buy some connections first <G>.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/19 13:38 by ts1457.

Reopening this will be like reopening Stampede Pass. A major do over

WAF Wrote:
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> Reopening this will be like reopening Stampede
> Pass. A major do over

No doubt. It would have to have a real purpose to spend such money.

Great Photos! Never been there and know almost nothing about the line.
I'm guessing there's little to no on-line industries to serve?

How long is the summit tunnel?