Nostalgia & History > Rock and Rail Shots

The Rock and Rail's main reason for existence was to run rock from a quarry at Parkdale Co on the ex DRGW Tenn Pass Line to Pueblo Co, where the trains were handed over to the BN for the remainder of the trip to Colorado Springs, where they were unloaded at what was known as Drennan. This was usually done overnight. We would pick the train up at the interchange yard/tracks in Pueblo usually around 1800-1900 or so daily and run to Parkdale. Loading would take 3-4 hours, then it would be back to Pueblo where we would turn the train back over to BNSF. Total time on duty was around 9-11 hours. Some times quicker, but not for the most part, rarely longer. The other train we ran was what we called the Kiewit Train. This one ran perhaps once a week or so and always seemed to be a daylight run. Train was longer than the Drennan Train and was delivered to UP at Pueblo. In this set of shots, is one of the Kiewit Trains. Power was RRRR GP9 201, RRRR 4390 an ex SP SD9, and RRRR GP30 301 an ex SSW GP30 (The 5000 at that). Shots were taken in Sept 2001

Shot 1 is at the quarry at Parkdale. With the Kiewit Train we didn't have to run around the train as we did with the Drennan Loads. We came staright off the siding at East Parkdale, ran thru the loop track that was built to facilitate the loading of trains and head back out for Pueblo. Kiewit Trains were usually 60 cars or more mostly UP cars (IE; DRGW, UP, CNW, CHTT). The overhead conveyors carried the rock out of the quarry to piles off to the right in shot, where a front end loader would scoop up a bucket and load the train. We usually spotted about 4-5 cars each time we had to move.

Shot 2 Another overview of the loading area at the quarry at Parkdale.

Shot 3 Rock and Rail GP9 201. An original low nose GP9 from SP. We had a few ex SP Units here at RRRR.

Have a few more shots to add to this....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/14 14:11 by ns2557.

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Some of the other train that were operated on R&R were ones where we would deliver cars to the Cotter Mill on the south side of Canon City. Mostly Tank Cars of Sulphuric Acid and some other cars of Gypsum and other products..

Shot 1 in this set shows one of the 4 leased ex LMX B39-8e's that we had for awhile. 8531 is with GP30 well up the "Hill" towards the Cotter Plant.

Shot 2 here has the 8531 and 301 moving thru the neighborhoods of Canon City enrte to the plant. This is just off of S 9th street in Canon City.

Shot 3 has the 301 leading back down the "Hill" twds town and back onto the main in town. These shots were taken in July 2001. Thanks for looking Ben

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Thanks for the background and the pictures.

Marty Bernard

Nice series of photos.

Thanks for sharing.
Ronda Thomas

Great stuff Ben, I'm sure that there aren't many shots of that trackage in Canon City!

Thanks for sharing your info!

Is that quarry still in operational?
Is the coal power plant in Canon City still operational?
(satellite images seem to say yes x 2)

Years ago we use to fly to Colorado Springs and drive to Ouray and I loved that drive, too bad Tennessee pass was already shutdown.