Looking south from the 88th Avenue grade crossing, you can see that the UP tracks on the Dent Branch have been completed removed. The ties are gone and some regrading has started. Note that a Union Pacific "1/2 mile marker" still stands off to the left of the right of way.
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Even though it has only been a short time since Union Pacific sold the Dent Branch to RTD, the signage along the right of way has already been replaced to reflect the new ownership! The sign shows that RTD is now the owner of the line.
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The old grade crossing here at 88th Avenue will most likely be replaced by a new one that will include crossing arms when commuter rail comes through here over the next three years. As of the date of this photo, RTD's Thornton commuter line is set to open in 2018.
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The remnants of Union Pacific's "Dent Branch" are visible along the right of way in Thornton just north of 88th Avenue along Welby Road. UP sold the line to RTD so commuter rail could be built in to Thornton from Denver. Along this stretch of the branch, most of the former UP infrastructure (including rails and ties) have been collected.
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Some nice apartments are found along the side of what used to be the Union Pacific "Dent Branch" in Thornton. Prior to its sale, I believe Union Pacific ran a single weekly local on the line. And that local didn't run too far north, either. In about three years, residents here will have an RTD commuter line available to them. The line will run from north Thornton to Union Station in Denver.
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Ties but no rails. With the sale to RTD complete, a cleanup crew is working on tearing up the old Union Pacific tracks along the "Dent Branch" right of way. Other than at grade crossing, the rails are all gone. Must of the work of picking up the old ties has been completed too, although there are still many left to be picked up.
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Just in case the sudden stopping of the tracks wasn't enough of a warning, these tracks are no longer active! Until recently, these tracks were owned by Union Pacific. The right of way has since been sold to RTD, which will be laying commuter rail tracks here over the course of the next three years.
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The Union Pacific "Dent Branch" ran north out of Denver through Thornton. It eventually turned west and ran in to Boulder, CO from the east. For years, the Valmont Power Plant received coal from the Dent Branch. A few months ago, UP completed the sale of the Dent Branch to RTD. In 2018, this will be a commuter rail line running to Union Station.
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