Nostalgia & History > BB: AT&SF + C&NW train @ Denver w/5 model designations

Power on this train was AT&SF U25B #6610, C&NW SD545 (no d/b) #968, AT&SF GP20 #3142, GP39-2 #3641 and GP20U #3006. BB labeled this as Tr414.

10/18/77 by Bruce Black

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During 1977, the ATSF was very power short and leased CNW and CN power. CNW and CN power showed up on a number of ATSF trains in Pueblo and Denver. The borrowed power did not have dynamic brakes, which made for interesting operations on the Joint Line between Pueblo and Denver over Palmer Lake.

Appears train was coming out of Burlington Northern’s 31st Street Yard (note flood light towers), Denver, CO, headed for Denver Union Station.

I don't know but you'd hope that Dynamic brake control was trainlined through that C&NW motor, or the only unit with dynamics would be the first one, not good descending the south side of the Palmer Divide! === === = === JLH

highgreengraphics Wrote:
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> I don't know but you'd hope that Dynamic brake
> control was trainlined through that C&NW motor, or
> the only unit with dynamics would be the first
> one, not good descending the south side of the
> Palmer Divide! === === = === JLH

Yes, that was my first reaction, too.

highgreengraphics Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't know but you'd hope that Dynamic brake
> control was trainlined through that C&NW motor, or
> the only unit with dynamics would be the first
> one, not good descending the south side of the
> Palmer Divide! === === = === JLH

Today the 27 pin jumper would trainline the dynamic brakes, but that U25B and GP20's may have been built with field loop dynamic brake control, and it would be a question if they had been modified to eliminate the field loop by this date. Probably were. BSB