This could possibly be the last time I get the opportunity to shoot BNSF 2026 in its red, white, and blue celebratory scheme. It is bringing up the rear of a BNSF Employee Appreciation Special that is headed into the Little Trench on Main 1. A significant thunderstorm that passed through Denver about an hour earlier is slowly making its way out toward the plains.
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At the south end of the Littleton Trench, BNSF 1776 and BNSF 3336 lead an Employee Appreciation Special north. The train just completed the first of two runs south from Denver to Littleton. Denver-based BNSF employees and their families were welcome to ride the passenger train for the roughly 12 mile (one way) trip.
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BNSF 1776, sporting a fantastic red, white, and blue scheme in honor of the United States 250th Birthday, heads north on Main 1 toward the Littleton Trench, just north of the start of the triple track at Littleton.
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A storm that generated dime-sized hail in Denver, and could possible release quarter-sized hail on the plains, makes for a dramatic backdrop to BNSF 2026, which just finished its southbound run from Denver to Littleton. The train will shortly depart north to go back to Denver.
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I really like the flags that BNSF decided to add to the 2026 here in Denver for the journey south on the Joint Line to Littleton. The Employee Appreciation Special will shortly depart north to head back to Denver to unload passengers and load new passengers before a second departure this evening at 6pm.
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I was very fortunate to come across this American Flag along the tracks. A perfect subject in the foreground with BNSF 1776 in the background. BNSF 1776 is painted in a special scheme to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States this year. The unit is on an Employee Appreciation Special here just south of Littleton on Main 1.
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At Littleton, the triple track ends and the two tracks of the Joint Line begin. This BNSF Employee Appreciation Special heads south on Main 1 along Santa Fe. Another mile or so to the south and the train will come to a stop. The crew will move from BNSF 2026 to BNSF 1776 and then head north back to Denver.
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Some very dark clouds from a major thunderstorm linger toward the east as BNSF 2026 accelerates toward a green signal on Main 1 at Littleton. The train will only go a bit further, down to the C-470 overpass, before switching directions and returning back to Denver.
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Just north of Littleton on Main 1, BNSF 2026 is rolling slow right now as they face a red signal at Littleton. A Major thunderstorm, which include dime-sized hail, passed over the downtown area just as the special was departing. The storm has moved more out to the east at this point, creating a dramatic scene.
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This southbound coal load is passing over the C-470 freeway and underneath the relatively new onramp from southbound US-85 onto eastbound C-470. The train is on Main 1, owned here by Union Pacific, and dispatched by BNSF.
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It is very fascinating to me how some brush fires can actually leave quite a bit of unburned foliage behind. That appears to be the case here, as BNSF's fire train sprays water along the right-of-way. Although there are clouds building up, there would not be any rain to offer relief from the heat today.
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You can very clearly see the areas where a brush far has burned away foliage on both sides of Main 1 along the Joint Line. High temperatures this July have contributed to the fires, as all but three days (so far) have been 90ºF (33ºC).
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BNSF's "fire train" is making a reverse move on Main 1 (in CTC limits) as firefights unleash water on a few smoldering hot spots from a small brush fire that started earlier in the day.
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Several firefighters spray water, pumped through these special tank cars, on hot spots from a brush fire that started alongside the tracks. The train is actually making a slow reverse move here, making multiple applications to the hotspots.
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Did you know that BNSF actually has a firefighting train that is based in Denver? I've seen it many, many times, sitting at the yard in Denver. However, this is the first time I've actually seen it in action! A few small brush fires along Main 1 south of Littleton.
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