A northbound BNSF manifest approaches the south end of the siding of Beshoar. Ever since September 2003, trains have used directional running between Pueblo and Amarillo. Northbounds, such as this one, run on the Twin Peaks Sub, so sidings like Beshoar are seldom used.
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This northbound BNSF coal empty is about seven miles south of Trinidad. Once in the yard, it will receive a new crew and continue north to Denver.
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This is one of those shots that I didn't give a whole lot of thought to at the time, but I really like it a lot. A New Image GEVO leads a northbound coal empty toward the yard in Trinidad.
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BNSF's Twin Peaks Sub crosses over the seldom-used BNSF Raton Sub about two miles south of the old C&S Yard in Trinidad. This manifest is headed there for a crew change.
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An ES44AC is being moved from the old C&S Yard down to the old ATSF Yard in Trinidad. The unit is going to take the first non-Amtrak train over Raton Pass in over six months!
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The only regular visitor to Raton Pass is Amtrak's Southwest Chief, seen here. The train just passed underneath the Twin Peaks Sub and will soon make its station stop in Trinidad.
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The Southwest Chief is running on the main track through the old ATSF Yard in Trinidad. Note the work train setup to depart in the distance. The work train will follow Amtrak over Raton Pass and run to Las Vegas, NM.
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Both my daughters are well-prepared (fingers in ears) for the Airchime K5LA horn that this Amtrak P42DC is equipped with!
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Just outside of Trinidad, the westbound Southwest Chief is running on Main 1 through the town of Starkville. Several rumors have gone around saying Main 2 will be abandoned over Raton Pass in the not-to-distant future.
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I included this picture specifically because of the green signal in the distance. It is possible that BNSF will be deactivating the CTC in place over the pass to save on money as Amtrak is essentially the only train using the tracks.
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A westbound BNSF work train is heading over Raton Pass a few miles out of Trinidad. This will be the first freight train to run over the pass past the York Canyon Branch in over a year.
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A BNSF work train climbs the east slope of Raton Pass on Main 1. You can see cars traveling on I-25 in the distance, the drivers likely unaware of the uniqueness of the train they are passing.
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This may be the most well-known (and most photographed) location on the eastern slope of Raton Pass! Wootton curve is located just a few miles below the summit of the pass.
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The first BNSF train over Raton Pass in months heads around Wootton Curve. The train is headed for Las Vegas, NM. Since the sale of Raton to the New Mexico Department of Transportation hasn't gone through yet, BNSF still has to do some level of maintenance.
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After conquering Raton Pass, this BNSF work train is descending down the single tack on the western slope toward the siding of Keota.
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