Western Railroad Discussion > A few Colorado shots from 11-14-2024

Went out yesterday with a specific goal in mind, missed the first attempt, but did ok later.  Here are the shots

Shot 1.. Alamosa Co 11-14-2024  Down at the CXRG/Colorado Pacific & Rio Grande shop in town found 2 units being tested and 3 others just sitting around. 1st out is one of the ex BNSF SD70MAC's that CXRG/CXR bought awhile back. This one is CXRG 512 and was just hanging around. Behind that are 2 recent GE Rebuilds, NS AC44C6M 4856 and UP C44ACM 6161 behind the NS. Both were being tested with a hood of sorts over the exhaust stack, but not sure exactly what they are testing for and who actually is doing the testing, GE or the NS/UP?  And behind those are the 2 still in BNSF Pnt SD70MAC's, which I believe are a parts source for the ones in service, and that's just a guess on my part.

Shot 2.. An ex SP&S F7A their 804, now still lettered as RPCX and the Minnesota Zephyr, sits in Alamosa beside the 2 most recent additions to the testing going on. These 2 are NS AC44C6M's 4864-4865. Info I can find on them says they were rebuilt and released by GE Erie in October 2024, just last month. There are about as fresh as one can get.

Shot 3.. The one I went after in the first place. Guess I didn't wait long enough in La Veta for the EB Trip of the 2x per week (Tues & Thurs) interchange to UP at Walsenburg Co. But on my way back home on the east side of La Veta Colo I saw the WB return of the one I missed earlier. At about 1415-1430 in La Veta, I grabbed a few shots of CXRG SD70MAC's 209 & 303 as they headed back to Alamosa. This shot is on the west end of La Veta as they crossed a street there.  That tree didn't lose many leaves in the recent snow and actually had some fall color left on it.  My half as##* attempt at an artsy shot..

Have a few more to share....   Ben



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/24 10:14 by ns2557.

---

---

---

3 more...

Shot 4. Down in Antonito Co got a few shots of the most recent acquisition of the C&TS, this one from the Great White North, up Yukon way. WP&Y DL535E 114. sits outside the shop building in town waiting for work or whatever they paln to do with it. Forgot that these were 6 axle Narrow Gage Units, kinda different.

Shot 5.   The shot just prior to the one of the 209 at the crossing in the 3rd shot. Just coming thru the curve on La Veta's west side, CXRG SD70MAC's 209 & 303 head west very slowly. That snow was knee deep in the shot in spots.  11-14-2024

Shot 6.  Last shot of the day.  In a somewhat unusual thing, Rock & Rail power was sitting in the interchange yard at the west end of Pueblo Yard. RRRR GP40-2 501 and RRRR GP40-2 401 idle away, waiting on, well, who knows. Didn't see anyone on board and nothing in yard area either. They did have the cabs locked up tho.  That sweet afternoon light really lit this one up for me. How nice of the sun god, SOL, to do so.   

Take care all, thanks for stopping by, Ben

---

---

---

Great day you had around southern Colorado with the Colorado Pacific RR and Rock & Rail at Pueblo, CO.  I wonder if GE/WABTEC is doing high altitude tests with those rebuilt locomotives at Alamosa, CO.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/24 10:32 by cozephyr.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us here on TO.   That former SP&S F7A looks to be in excellent condition as does the narrow guage unit.   Great variety to be found for a part of the country that does not get a great deal of railroad traffic.  

You cleaned up ! Thanks for posting these.

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Minor point, RRRR 401 is jsut a GP-40.  Started life as PC 3138, then Conrail 3138, then D&RGW 3140, and eventually to RRRR 401,

RR



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/24 10:57 by koloradokid.

koloradokid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Minor point, RRRR 401 is jsut a GP-40.  Started
> life as PC 31238, then Conrail 3138, then D&RGW
> 3140, and eventually to RRRR 401,
>
> RR

Doc, Rock and Rail Rebuilt the 401 within the last 2 years to -2 standards. New Electricals, top end rebuild on the 645 block, truck work, plus some other things. Yeah Knew it was an ex PC to CR to DRGW, They say it is their best runner of the 3 they have. Ben

Great stuff!

You gotta wonder why the narrow guage was not un loaded in Antonito.
7 or 8 units seems like a big over kill for the std. gauge.  Maybe a couple will be going back to Kansas for those wheat trains.Thanks for the pictures.

That CXRG paint scheme has to be on the list of my alltime favorites.

SPgoletablock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That CXRG paint scheme has to be on the list of my
> alltime favorites.
>
>Looks like a top-secret Conrail...........

SPgoletablock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That CXRG paint scheme has to be on the list of my
> alltime favorites.

I like it as well.

tomstp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You gotta wonder why the narrow guage was not un
> loaded in Antonito.
> 7 or 8 units seems like a big over kill for the
> std. gauge.  Maybe a couple will be going back to
> Kansas for those wheat trains.Thanks for the
> pictures.


Huh??  I had not heard of anything other than there she is!

Also Ben, wouldn't the 401 be a GP-40M?  Something only us railfans would even care about!

RR

Great photos Ben.  Thanks for sharing them.

Jim Barton

4 SD70Macs are based out of Alamosa, 4 out of Eads. 2 unpainted Macs sit in the Alamosa shops for parts as needed

All great shots!

Great set of shots!!

Thanks for sharing them.