Western Railroad Discussion > Lots of Work on the East Side of Tennessee Pass

Today was a very busy day from Pueblo to Canon City and beyond. Last Thursday the UP Track Inspector imposed two 10-MPH speed restrictions on the line between m.p. 141.7 to 142.7. Today, the Pueblo Welding Gang, the Section Gang, both Signal and Track Inspectors and the UP Track Inspection truck were working the entire line from Pueblo to Parkdale. The Canon City Local had to wait at Hobson siding until 2:45 P.M. for the Track Inspection truck to clear the main and gave back their warrant. The Local then continued to Canon City with stops at Portland (Florence) (57 empties for the cement plant at Portland) and 30+ loads of coal for the Power Plant at Canon City. Between all this, the dispatcher had to get Rock & Rail through twice.

The inspection Foreman stated he would probably not get done today and everyone will be back tomorrow. All Gangs and equipment tied up at Swallows siding for the night. I just heard (6:30 P.M.) the Local talking about not being able to unload coal at the Power Plant because the Plant had the track blocked with coal piles. Expect a crew from Denver to finish their work as the Local will probably go dead on the law - they come to work around 8:00 A.M.

In addition, all the signals are dark from Canon City West as I heard RGRY encountering dark signals all along it's trip today. Must be due to work going on the line.

Both cement and coal loads are up in the last 2 weeks and Rock & Rail even operated 2 Sunday's ago moving empty and loaded cement hoppers between Pueblo and Portland. Coal usage is up by about twice as much due to summer. I talked to one of the ranchers today (Hobson siding was named after the family) and he stated this is the most attention paid to this area as far as track and signal work goes in the last 10 years. All in all, very busy out here today. Probably will continue to be busy all week.

That made my day better, thanks for the info ;-)

-Tyler

airbrake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Today was a very busy day from Pueblo to Canon
> City and beyond. Last Thursday the UP Track
> Inspector imposed two 10-MPH speed restrictions on
> the line between m.p. 141.7 to 142.7. Today, the
> Pueblo Welding Gang, the Section Gang, both Signal
> and Track Inspectors and the UP Track Inspection
> truck were working the entire line from Pueblo to
> Parkdale. The Canon City Local had to wait at
> Hobson siding until 2:45 P.M. for the Track
> Inspection truck to clear the main and gave back
> their warrant. The Local then continued to Canon
> City with stops at Portland (Florence) (57 empties
> for the cement plant at Portland) and 30+ loads of
> coal for the Power Plant at Canon City. Between
> all this, the dispatcher had to get Rock &
> Rail through twice.
>
> The inspection Foreman stated he would probably
> not get done today and everyone will be back
> tomorrow. All Gangs and equipment tied up at
> Swallows siding for the night. I just heard (6:30
> P.M.) the Local talking about not being able to
> unload coal at the Power Plant because the Plant
> had the track blocked with coal piles. Expect a
> crew from Denver to finish their work as the Local
> will probably go dead on the law - they come to
> work around 8:00 A.M.
>
> In addition, all the signals are dark from Canon
> City West as I heard RGRY encountering dark
> signals all along it's trip today. Must be due to
> work going on the line.
>
> Both cement and coal loads are up in the last 2
> weeks and Rock & Rail even operated 2 Sunday's
> ago moving empty and loaded cement hoppers between
> Pueblo and Portland. Coal usage is up by about
> twice as much due to summer. I talked to one of
> the ranchers today (Hobson siding was named after
> the family) and he stated this is the most
> attention paid to this area as far as track and
> signal work goes in the last 10 years. All in all,
> very busy out here today. Probably will continue
> to be busy all week.
>


Not to nit pick but here is a few corrections. In CTC its "Track n Time"...not a warrant. The relief crew for the local would be extra board out of Pueblo, not Denver. The signals are dark because the storm y'all had a few weeks ago did a number on the CTC between Canon City and Parkdale so the passenger train runs on "Track n Time" instead of signals. Like I said just a few minor corrections is all......no flame intended.