Western Railroad Discussion > 2 from yesterday in Colo Springs

Hi all, Well yesterday was another day of what seem to be endless appt's. Our trip found us in Colorado Springs Co yesterday.  Had word that a UP Coal Load for the CSU Drake Plant in downtown Co Springs was at the plant, so we thought we might get a chance and check it out.  And indeed there was a load getting sorted out for unloading when we got up that way. But first the appt. After that we made our way back to the Drake Plant in town and came away with a shot or 2. This plant is not real easy to shoot. I25 on west side and some city streets on the East side. None of which really offer good opportunities for shots. And then there is the sun. Always back lit it seems. But we did ok on what we did shoot here. UP's C-NADK 1-28C or UP 8356 was awaiting. Here in my first shot is one of the better ones we managed. UP 5277 and 5514 are shoving ever so slowly into the receiving tracks thru the unload area and into the yard tracks CSU has here. Back drop is looking towards the mountains and the Broadmoor Bluffs section of town. Nice to finally get a shot of something inside the plant here. CSU plans to be done with coal here by 2023 being replaced by Natural Gas Turbines until more Transmission Lines can be erected. Ray Nixon, farther south has until 2030 and they will shut down the coal there also. So with Drake, the chances of getting shots of trains at or in the plant are dwindling each day. Have not really seen to many recently here either at that.

My other shot is of the BNSF Pikes Peak Local, the PPL as it's known around these parts. Up until about a year or so ago, this train came south out of Denver 3x per week, a down one day and back the next. Now, they run north out of Pueblo. Think it's still a 3x per week job. But here it is seen working near Drennan Ave on the south side of COS. This is also where the Rock & Rail unloads it's rock at when it runs. One of the nice things in regards to the PPL is the fact it uses at minimum 2 SD40-2's for power. Today it is BNSF 1591 & 1826.  Nice to catch standard cabs on a regular basis anymore.

Thanks for looking. We have another trip to COS on Weds, so who knows what we will see.  Take care all,  Kristie



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/21 10:31 by msns2557.

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