Nostalgia & History > When Valmont burned coal

Public Service Co of Colorado GE80T (32372 Nov.1955) on 1/14/72 @ the Valmont Power plant, Boulder CO ... by Bruce Black 
... notice this was the 'capitalized' valmont ; ^ )

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First-class industrial locomotive action photo.
Bob

maybe back when coal came up UP's boulder branch!

> maybe back when coal came up UP's boulder branch!

Hello,

In those days, the UP-supplied coal came down from Wyoming on one of the G. River - Denver trains.  It was then hauled back north on the Dent Branch by locals that served Valmont.  I don't believe any shipments were made in unit train quantities, all were "loose cars" as far as I know, most often in blocks of 5-15 cars or so.

Take care,

Mark
 

Don't think the track would stand up to weekly coal trains

Mark's right I think I've posted pics of them on the past, remember seeing GP30's leading 

Thanks, I don't remember this switcher.   I do recall coal coming down from LaSalle also such as seen in the attached.  They are going through Fredrick and will soon head west to Valmont at St Vrain.Soon PSC would  switch to Rio Grande originated coal and nearly everything came out of N Yard..  Thanks for the look back.

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Conch Wrote:
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> Thanks, I don't remember this switcher.   I do
> recall coal coming down from LaSalle also such as
> seen in the attached.  They are going through
> Fredrick and will soon head west to Valmont at St
> Vrain.Soon PSC would  switch to Rio Grande
> originated coal and nearly everything came out of
> N Yard..  Thanks for the look back.

Thanks so much for the photo from Frederick!  On occasion the crew would let me load up my bike on the side of one of the units and let me ride with them to Dacono.  They'd frequently run into the mini mart in Frederick as well for snacks.