Western Railroad Discussion > Motorcars on Colorado Pacific and CP Rio Grande

First photo on May 26  a few miles west of Towner, (Colorado) end of track limits controlled by Colorado Pacific Railroad. This is the new grain elevator recently in operation.  Earthwork is about to start here for a turnaround loop that will allow grain trains to make a loop during loading and head back west to NA Jct, about 120 miles west of this location to interchange back to BNSF/UP.   Colorado Pacific Railroad operates from NA Jct to Towner, Colorado. 

Second, third photos at Fir Summit (Colorado).  First motorcar run over the Colorado Pacific Rio Grande since their take over from Iowa Pacific bankrupcy, former San Luis Rio Grande trackage.    Colorado Pacific Rio Grande interchanges with BNSF at Walsenburg, CO, although official trackage ends a few miles west of Walsenburg., 

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Not many cars, were hyrails allowed?

When did they start interchanging with BNSF.  I thought it was closed to BNSF and only open with UP at Walsenburg.

Mike Root
Madras, OR

Interchange is with UP unless some thing has drastically changed.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
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> Interchange is with UP unless some thing has
> drastically changed.
>
> Out 

Yes,Interchange at Walsenburg is strictly UP. At NA Jct, not sure how the ship it out, but only train so far came in empty off UP and went back out loaded to UP, all thru NA Jct. NA Jct west to Pueblo Jct is over BNSF and ex MOP. Mop had the rights to run Pblo Jct to NA Jct.  Ben

Which was used by the Colorado Eage.

Out 

Thanks for posting this!!!

I had almost forgotten how beautiful Fir, CO. is.
Sure miss the trains of the Rio Grande Scenic from Alamosa to La Veta. . Wonder if they will return with the new owner of the line ?