Western Railroad Discussion > The Twin Peaks of Southern Colorado

What's kinda nice living on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains here in Colorado, also what is known as the Front Range, tho that is more for the northern reaches from Colorado Springs thru Denver and on into Wyoming. The views are at times spectacular. One of the more prominent sights is the "Twin Peaks" which can be seen from Colorado Springs which is 100 miles or so to the north and as one heads west into Colorado they can be seen from out east beginning at least in the La Junta area. There are numerous places here near my home in Penrose as ya go east that one can see them, the farther east ya go the more they become visible.

The2 separate peaks are known as the East Peak at 12,688ft and West Peak at 13631ft. They are west and south of Walsenburg Co and also south of Colorado Hwy 12 and US160 up and over La Veta Pass. On clear days the range to the south of the Twin Peaks is located in the northern reaches of New Mexico (Those be the snowy ones behind in this shot)  The Comanche called these Wa Ha Toy Yah or Double Mountain. They are in Huerfano County Colorado and also have the distinction of being designated in 1976 a US National Landmark.

But enough of the background on these. Here is a shot of the SB H DENAMS1 17 or as I hear it referred to as just the DENAM. BNSF C44-9W 5018 leads this day's version which had a stranger along for the ride, that being Savage or SVGX SW1200RSm 7102. Unit was rebuilt from CN SW1200RS 1230 done by CN in Jan 1987.  This one is called a SWEEP  Kinda like Santa Fe's BEEP, just done a different way.  The shot is on Pueblo's north end on Main 1 of the Pikes Peak Sub. Pueblo yard is perhaps 1/2 mile or so ahead.   Shot was taken on March 17 2025 a rather windy day but nice temp wise.

And as ya can see, they do stand out.   Thanks for looking. Be well, take care, Ben 

---

Nice !!!

Are these mountains also referred to as the Spanish Peaks?
Or am I confusing them with something else ?  I lived in northern Colorado and the mountians below Colorado Springs are not as familiar.

Magnificiant vistas along the Front Range. I remember being in Windsor, CO (up north of Denver and south and east of Fort Collins) in the mid-1970's and on a clear day you could see Pikes Peak all the way down by Colorado Springs, maybe what 130 miles away. Clear days were rare then. The morning was usually good, but come afternoon the yellow haze cloud fog would drift north up the Front Range from Denver towards Wyoming and even the beautiful view of Long's Peak would disappear.

I wish I had scouted Pueblo out more. I went down there about 1977 to try and hire out at the Station to the DRGW, but never got on. I recall the MoPac there, but never took any photos. I did grab a few shots of ATSF F45's. Also went to the DOT Test Track. That was back when it was a dirt road off Route 50? You literally drove down and through the creeks and stream beds. I showed up and just walked freely in the door of the first building I saw and they gave me a tour.

Yes, also called the Spanish Peaks.

The range to the right which one can barely see is the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo Mtns which go by a few names thru here, just depends on where ya be at.  I didn't get here til 1984. Remember some things out east of Pueblo, namely seeing some Semaphor's out there. Still a few dirt roads as well out here. The DOT TTC is now entered via a nicely paved road, but getting on the grounds ain't as easy as it was back then. There is also what is now called MxV which is accessed from the Main Entrance to the old Pueblo Chemical Depot and they are even more of a challenge to get to.  Both yards are still here with the old MOP/DRGW being the western most of the 2. BNSF ex BN/ATSF is the east side of the 2. Both are just west of downtown Pueblo and north of Pueblo Union Depot. There is also a Museum located on the south end of the yards, they have 3 of the ex C&W GP7's on the grounds as well as a few other critter types. Ain't as busy as it once was by any means with BNSF being the busier of the 2. Ya can see for Miles once east of the Front Range.  Ben

Always was curious how busy the Mopac was in and out of Pueblo, particularly before the D&RGW was granted trackage rights over the line eastward to Kansas City.   It seemed like a rail line far flung from Mopac's core routes.  

Also translated to "Breasts of the Earth".  I lived up in University Park (Puebo) and could see Pikes Peak out the front of the home, and the Twin Peaks out the south side.  Best of both worlds.  And there were days one could swear they were just a few miles away.  One family story was about an uncle or grand parent who saw the peak (Pikes) looking really close, and he was going to take off and climb up there.  I am presuming someone convinced him that the peak wasn't really that close.  Funny thing, I was 50 before I ever got to the top of Pikes Peak.  Typical native!!

RR



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/25 00:07 by koloradokid.

koloradokid Wrote:
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> Also translated to "Brests of the Earth". 

I've told the story before of riding the SW Chief to Flagstaff in 1983 and the conductor clearly enjoyed telling us what Wahatoya translates to in English.  But I've also head that's more of a good story than the truth.

My friend Russ and I enjoyed using the mountains as backdrops on our trip to Colorado last year.

Andy

koloradokid Wrote:
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 Funny thing, I ws 50 before I ever got to
> the thop of Pikes Peak.  Typical native!!

Lol, sounds about right. Like when I lived in Manhattan and rarely went to the top of the Empire State Bldg (only 14 blocks from home) or the WTC, or visit the Statue of Liberty and so many other local spots. Except with visitors. I venture to guess that's how most folks live with visitor spots nearby...

As for this thread, I always thought that if I was going to live in CO it would be in Pueblo, for a variety of good reasons:

1) Beautiful scenery in sight.
2) Close to just about everything in CO.
3) Close to NM and the rest of the SW.
4) Lower cost of living and congestion than other big cities in the state or region.
5) Big enough to have a few things to do and see, including railroad-wise, but not rinky-dink like a small town with nosy nabobs.
6) Variety of seasons and weather and not too extreme either way.

BTW, nice shots and write-up Ben, thanks for posting...

JG

inrdjlg Wrote:
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> Always was curious how busy the Mopac was in and
> out of Pueblo, particularly before the D&RGW was
> granted trackage rights over the line eastward to
> Kansas City.   It seemed like a rail line far
> flung from Mopac's core routes.  

MoP was quite busy in those days.  Two and sometimes three and even four freights each way each day, an out one day, back the next local to Horace, and coal trains. a couple each day heading east with empties coming back.  Track was in good shape and mostly if not all CWR.  It didn't take long for the UP to destroy it.  Rio Grande pretty much equaled the Mop except the MP continued to run the local for a little while.  Rio Grande trains were crewed with MP crews. For a while at least.  Once SP was folded in with the Rio Grande, trains ffom Pueblo left the MP route at Herington for the SP route Cotton Rock) into Kansas City, and visa-versa.  UP wasted no time cutting the former MP east of Herington.

RR

jgilmore Wrote:
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> As for this thread, I always thought that if I was
> going to live in CO it would be in Pueblo, for a
> variety of good reasons:
>
> 1) Beautiful scenery in sight.
> 2) Close to just about everything in CO.
> 3) Close to NM and the rest of the SW.
> 4) Lower cost of living and congestion than other
> big cities in the state or region.
> 5) Big enough to have a few things to do and see,
> including railroad-wise, but not rinky-dink like a
> small town with nosy nabobs.
> 6) Variety of seasons and weather and not too
> extreme either way.
>
>

While I agree with 1-5, number 6 is not my fondest memories.  Summers with temps in the 105 range for weeks on end in late summer, and while it didn't snow all that often, getting a foot or more was not out of the question.  One storm had me steering my Jeep using the front tires as a rudder.  Exhausting day.  And walking all day in 8-12 inches of the white stuff was a long day.  I would move back there, but the Mrs. would not go.  She doesn't even want to go visit her brother who still lives there.  Housing prices are lower, or you can pay more and go out to Pueblo West.  Pueblo's population has dropped below 100,000 I hear, while PW is growing.  Or be like Ben and move to Canon City and only deal with Pueblo when you want to.

RR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/25 14:34 by koloradokid.

koloradokid Wrote:
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> While I agree with 1-5, number 6 is not my fondest
> memories.  Summers with temps in the 105 range
> for weeks on end in late summer, and while it
> didn't snow all that often, getting a foot or more
> was not out of the question.  One storm had me
> steering my Jeep using the front tires as a
> rudder.  Exhausting day.  And walking all day in
> 8-12 inches of the white stuff was a long day. 

Interesting, but I guess it's all relative. Having grown up in MI, then living in NY and PA 8-12 inches was typical, and 15-25 inches not unheard of, or even more. Then living in the blazing, humid mess of DFW summers (105-115 common and 70 or more days straight above 100), the semi-arid 105 of Pueblo would've been ok for me, lol...

JG

jgilmore Wrote:
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> Interesting, but I guess it's all relative. Having
> grown up in MI, then living in NY and PA 8-12
> inches was typical, and 15-25 inches not unheard
> of, or even more. Then living in the blazing,
> humid mess of DFW summers (105-115 common and 70
> or more days straight above 100), the semi-arid
> 105 of Pueblo would've been ok for me, lol...
>
> JG

True, plus we were a lot younger then!!  Today, a one inch snowfall is horrid to think about!!

And the Heat was really dry in Pueblo.  We got moist days, but darn few.  And we just took it in stride because we couldn't change it if we wanted to.  And 360 days of at least some sun shine was a real plus!!  Mornings were wonderful times to be out shooting.  The light was great, and it was still cool.  Ah, the good ol days!!

RR

Yeah, The weather is quite interesting out here. Like Doc said it can and does get 105plus in late summer. Snow can fly as early as late August up thru the first week of June, I know, I've seen both and shoveld both in the 28 years I have lived out here. I recall living in PA due to my mother not doing well for about 2 months in 2003 or so. Had a few Nor Easters that dumped 34 inches plus. Growing up in PA I recall snows 2-3 days apart with storm totals over those few days of 32 give or take one day then a few days later another of about the same. Think that was the awful winters of 1977-1978. As a youngin I worked at an Apartment Complex and gent who owned quite a few properties where we shovled snow it seemed like every day.   And as Doc said, even an inch anymore is a pia for me. Don't do it anymore, just sit in the house and look out the windows at the so many idiots that try and drive. And I'm being nice.

 Canon City is a nice place to live. Temps are usually good year round, Snow files mostly from Oct to early May with the bigger storms in spring. Things are haeting up out here now as well. Daytime temps reaching low 70's but low 30's at night. Not much rain after May. Monsoon's, if ya wanna call them that begin July or so. Some big Summer Storms roll off the mountains and really get a rollin as they move east. Nice to see from the back side as the clouds really tower up, many Super Cell type storms. But the Jet Stream can blow the tops off pretty easy when it flows ceratin ways.  Housing prices are generally 250-400K depending on what ya want. Canon City and neighbor town Florence are home to many Sate and Federal Correctional Facilities with the Super Max at Florence. So lots of Law Enforcement around. But crime is getting to be an issue in Canon City. Big time issues like lots of places nationwide. Here in Penrose where I live, not so much. But this is an area where the 2nd Ammendment is well entrenched. So perhaps there is some reasons as to why crime is not out of hand here, yet.

Pueblo has a big crime issue, worse than Denver or Colorado Springs, but housing is not very expensive over there. Pueblo West is a good area. Lots of nearby recreational spots. But housing is beginning to get up there.

As for RR's, there are enough to keep one occupied as a fan. BNSF is the busier of the two in town. And they still run coal. Rock & Rail does ok. They don't run as often as they did years ago even, but a local runs 2x per week Tues/Thur and the Rock Train is currently running 2x per week with other runs when needed, and that is Wed/Thur. Ya have the RGX or Royal Gorge Route. They have a set of A-B F7's, which are currently down and not being used. Issues with the 403. The 402 is stored OOS at the RGX Shops in town. Pueblo has the Pueblo RR Museum which occupies the area just behind and north of Pueblo Union Depot. 3 of the ex C&Wy GP's are here as are afew other critter type units. Therea re some smaller RR's in the area as well. GCC Cement, south of Pueblo at Lime Road exit off I25 has an ex DAIR GP9, #8 working the plant. C&S Wind, the old Vestas Plant off Lime Road also, uses 2 ex ATSF GP20's, one red and one yellow, both from the South Plains and LeMesa, but they are extremely difficult to shoot. Major Tresspassing is needed to get to where they are unless one has permission from the office there. Up in Pueblo West at Liberty Rail there is an SW9 i believe it is that works there small site. On the site as well are 2 ex US Navy MRS1's. One has been stripped down quite abit, the other still pretty much intact.  And don't forget the Evraz Steel Mill in Pueblo. They use a fleet of SW1500's plus they still have one or two of the original SW8's

Colorado Springs is 25 miles north of my home in Penrose, but that's just the south end near Ft Carson. Denver can be made in abt 2 hours. Pueblo is 25-30 east on US50. Walsenburg Colo is an hour's drive at 55 miles or so south. Albuquerque is an 6-8 hour drive down I25. Cheyenne Wyo is 3-4 Hours north Overall it is a nice area to live. It has grown on this eastern lad thru the years. Be hard for me to leave anymore. So big city things are within reach, small town charm is right next door.   Y'all take care, be well. Ben

Is Evraz Steel the former CF&I facility?  I didn't know if it was still active or not.  

I passed through Pueblo last year to and from a one-day photo charter on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic.

Around the holidays, I saw an interior shot or two of the Pueblo Union Station, which appeared to have been nicely restored.  I read somewhere that it served five railroads.  I can account for Colorado & Southern, Santa Fe, Rio Grande, and Mopac, but cannot figure out what the fifth railroad would have been.  

Nice image, and lots of interesting commentary. When I lived in the Denver area, I used to regularly drive down to the areas being mentioned, and westward into the mountains. The areas of the Sangre de Cristo range, adjoining the Spanish Peaks / Twin Peaks to the west were favorites, as were the areas in northern New Mexico adjoining the Raton Mesa system extending eastward from around Raton Pass into far northwestern Oklahoma. I spent a lot of time in both areas.

Another very interesting fact about the Twin Peaks / Spanish Peaks seldom mentioned is that they are the easternmost summits of such height in the country. Everything further east is of lower elevation. A common belief, probably stemming from the fame attached to Pikes Peak in many tourist guidebooks, and its accessibility with the famous cog railway to the summit, is that Pikes Peak is the easternmost summit of the high peaks of the Rockies, and higher than anything further east, but that's not correct. 

East Spanish Peak at -104.9725 (104° 58' 21'' W), is about .072 degrees of longitude (about 3.8 miles) further east than the summit of Pike's Peak at -105.04441 (105° 2' 40'' W). And West Spanish Peak at -104.9938 (104° 59' 38'' W) is about .051 degrees of longitude (about 2.7 miles) further east than the summit of Pikes Peak. All of my data is from Peakbagger.com, which is an outstanding and very accurate site for all kinds of information concerning mountains around the world.

From the Spanish Peaks, overall it's all downhill to the Atlantic, with some significant (but much lower) bumps like the Appalachians in between. The Spanish Peaks / Twin Peaks really are quite prominent and eyecatching from many angles of view out on the High Plans east of the Rockies. I would go so far as to say from my many wanderings around Colorado east of the Rockies both on business and for recreation that they are more visible and prominent from many viewpoints and angles than the much more famous and higher Pikes Peak (yes it should have an apostrophe in the name - Pike's Peak - in being named after explorer Zeubulon Pike, but it's almost never rendered that way). But Pikes Peak usually gets all of the glory, and the Spanish Peaks / Twin Peaks are almost forgotten.

Another view of the Twin Peaks / Spanish Peaks from further south at Branson, Colo., right on the Colorado - New Mexico state line, that I posted this past Tuesday. https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,5999159,5999159#msg-5999159. My view is to the northwest, with West Spanish Peak / West [Twin] Peak to the left, and East Spanish Peak / East [Twin] Peak to the right. The OP's view above is, on the other hand, looking southbound. See how much prominence they have and how much they stand out when viewing from two different cardinal directions of the compass? Quite impressive.

It's a wonderfully beautiful part of the country well worth a visit. And while the railroading may not be what it once was, it's still quite interesting and very scenic, too.

MC



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/25 13:00 by ironmtn.

inrdjlg Wrote:
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> Is Evraz Steel the former CF&I facility?  I
> didn't know if it was still active or not.  

Yes, and yes. Evraz is completely up to date, and has been in the midst of a major expansion that'll be finished soon. One of the three makers of rail in the US...

JG

jgilmore Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> inrdjlg Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is Evraz Steel the former CF&I facility?  I
> > didn't know if it was still active or not.  
>
> Yes, and yes. Evraz is completely up to date, and
> has been in the midst of a major expansion that'll
> be finished soon. One of the three makers of rail
> in the US...
>
> JG

Yes, and so much of the original steel plant has been cut up and fed to the Electric Arc Furnace.Sad to see what was once an impressive row of blast furnaces!

We used to sit and watch the dining table light cycle, diming slightly as the arc furnace was melting a new batch of scrap steel.  Then 1980 came along and the whole world of steel making changed forever.

RR

Thank you for the update on Evraz.

The new Rail Mill is up and running. Lengths to 1/4 mile long can be cast. Takes up alot of ground in the plant. Ben

When I was young, early 1950's, my family took its usual colorado vacation in June..  Rolled into Colorado Springs, got a motel room and had tickets to ride the train up Pikes Peak.  Temp was in the high 80's.  Next morning there was 5 " of snow on the grown and clouds covered the mountain. Big surprise.But we rode up there anyway.  I remember going through 2 layers of clouds.

Always liked Pueblo for the steel mill and busy yard in town.  And, loved seeing Rio Grande steam and diesels. Our first trip through there showed lots of steam that was retired. My last trip there most of the steel mill was missing.  Sad.  And of course no Rio Grande engines there.. So I started spending my time in Chama-Alamosa.  I pretty much hate the word "progress" as it has messed up a lot of railroading.