When BNSF arrives with the Valmont coal train, half the train is spotted within the power plant, spread across multiple tracks. While this is happening, the second half of the train hangs out on the main track, east of 63rd Street.
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The Valmont coal train pulls into Boulder across 63rd Street alongside the Valmont power plant. Recently legislation in Colorado may result in the Valmont power plant converting to natural gas. So the Valmont coal train's days may be limited!
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After placing half its train at the Valmont power plant, the second half of the train must now be placed on the storage track along the Stazio ball fields.
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A few afternoon clouds spill over on the Continental Divide as the Valmont coal load works on spotting cars at the power plant in Boulder. Interestingly, the third unit on the train in a C44-9W, not a unit with AC traction motors! Not too common these days.
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The Valmont coal load makes a reverse move away from the camera to spot a string of cars at the power plant, noted to the left in this shot. Despite the somewhat rural look, this is actually in the middle of Boulder!
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Pulling across 63rd Street in Boulder, the northbound Valmont coal load prepares to spot about half the train at the power plant. The second half of the cars will be spotted on the Boulder siding until they are needed for unloading.
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After securing its train in the clear, the Longmont Turn is about to proceed north (geographically west) to the Boulder siding where it will clear up for a southbound that is currently leaving Longmont. Afterward, the light power will return to Longmont for the day.
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With its train secure off the mainline, the light power for the Longmont Turn comes out onto the mainline, the brakeman standing on the ground protecting the switch.
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The Longmont Turn has some very new power - three ES44AC's - for switching today. The Turn just finished positioning some Valmont hoppers along the Stazio baseball field complex. Now, the crew is hooking back up to the rest of the train on the mainline.
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