Does this even qualify as a train? A great looking Warbonnet leads a box car and a ballast washer through Fort Collins toward the south siding switch of North Yard.
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This picture could be on Sesame Street under the headline "one of things does not belong"! The Front Range Sub runs right down the middle of Mason Street in Fort Collins. When trains aren't present, cars can change lanes across the tracks. A southbound "blade train" is approaching, changing the tops lights to flashing yellow.
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Other than the unit blade train rolling down the middle of the street, life on Mason Street is pretty normal, right down to the CSU student riding his bike northbound. The train is limited to 10 MPH for safety on Mason Street.
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You can really appreciate the size of these wind mill blades when they roll past you on a train. Each blade is roughly 100 feet long. These blades were constructed at the Vestas plant in Fort Lupton, CO and are headed for a wind farm in Texas.
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This Vestas Blade train is moving at 30 MPH as it climbs toward the north siding switch of Longs Peak, just south of Berthoud.
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Near Vermillion Road north of Longmont, wind blades pass in front of Longs Peak.
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It's amazing how wide these wind mill blades actually are at their base. They are perfect circles at the base. Once attached, the blades will spin at 10-20 revolutions per minute. That can equate to over 200 MPH at the tips. Imagine that centripetal force!
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In Longmont, this blade train has made the turn from the south to the west as it crosses US-287 near the Longmont depot. The depot is now used by BNSF as their "headquarters" for locals based out of Longmont.
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This is interesting. Blades for a wind farm...which of course generates electricity, passes in front of the Valmont power plant...which of course generates electricity!
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Just south of Louisville, this blade train is on the move with a warrant all the way in to Denver. Looks like the lead unit has undergone some repair work as most of the long hood on the right side is still in primer.
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A blade train comes around the curve on the fill at Westminster. About seven more miles and this crew will getting off the train, replaced by a new crew that will take the train to La Junta, CO.
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A wide angle shot of a blade train coming around the fill in Westminster. In the distance, you can see the tallest building in Westminster, the Westin hotel.
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The journey down the Front Range Sub is complete. The blade train is just about to pass the distant signal at the I-76 overpass. The distant signal is in advance of the diamond with the UP Belt Line. With UP's DS-86 clearing the train across the diamond, the distant signal is now showing a green.
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Approaching Fox Junction, this blade train is slowly rolling down BNSF's New North Main at Rennicks. The track to the left of the blade train is UP's main line and the only track visible under CTC.
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At Fox Junction, there is a pedestrian bridge built over the tracks. On my way down off the bridge, this shot through the framework of the bridge caught my eye.
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