Western Railroad Discussion > Chase of SP Heritage engine on the N. Fork Branch

Union Pacific 1996, the Southern Pacific Heritage engine departed early this morning out of Grand Jct. as the rear DP engine on an empty coal train for a run down the N. Fork Branch. Since the line dead ends at the coal mine, the trains have to reverse direction and thus the 1996 was the leader on the return of the loaded coal train back to Grand Jct. It was a nice day out in Western Colorado, albeit a little hazy with smoke in the sky from some out of state forest fires but with the fact that it made the run both ways in daylight hours, it was a little too good to pass up on:}

--------------------Nine pictures total will be posted--------------------------

1) With the train leaving Grand Jct. before the Sun came up, I went down to the Whitewater Boat Launch parking lot for my first going away picture of the train. This train originated and will terminate at Long Beach, CA.

2) Next view was near Milepost 45 (miles out of GJ)

3) The last going away view is just past the town of Paonia at Milepost 84.

----------------Six more pictures posted below---------------------------

---

---

---

It took just a little over three hours while the train loaded at the Mine.

4) The train has just finished loading with the rear DP seen just past the loading tipple in the background and a coal pile and conveyor tower seen on the hillside. This is the W. Elk Mine and is at the end of the N. Fork Branch located 95 miles from Grand Jct.

The chase is now on!

5) Crossing an old wooden trestle at Milepost 92 with the train snaking through the curves in the background.

6) Passing a small orchard near Milepost 87.

------------------Three more pictures posted below----------------------

---

---

---

7) The view from the other side of the tracks at Milepost 84 as the train approaches Paonia.

8) Pulling the grade up to Rogers Mesa Siding.

9) And the last shot of the day as the train powers up "Payne Sag".

Long day but well worth it in my opinion:}



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/13/22 06:59 by SP8595.

---

---

---

Excellent bunch as always.
JB

3rdswitch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Excellent bunch as always.
> JB

Ditto!!

Allen

Posted from Android

Great series from a part of Colorado I've yet to visit. (Apparently too much of my time in CO in years past was focused on skiing, snowboarding, and rock climbing.) How many times a week does this line see service these days? Is all the traffic coal, or are there other industries?

Sean

Not bad ;-)

Posted from Android

Truly excellent!!

Out 

Excellent chase, very enjoyable!!

Larry

Thanks for posting the great series of shots!  Lots of
good locations and set-ups ... well done!

Odyssey
Evergreen, CO

Nice work. Interesting area.
t4p.

Excellent shots as usual. Now you're making me think its time for a road trip to CO. 

Awesome shots as always!

Great stuff my friend. 

MILW86A 

Awesome series, hard to pick a favorite, they're all so good!

Do the railroads equip all their mainline diesels to be DPU's? Do they do that in house?

Superb group of images!! You sure are familiar with that territory, home field advantage :)

Great variety of locations, light, and scenery!  A highly productive chase.
GK

TheNavigator Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great variety of locations, light, and scenery! 
> A highly productive chase.
> GK

Agree, terrific series!

JG

Stellar, as usual... :^)