Photo ID: 104540 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Hogans Alley Denver, CO 1976 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific Kicking it up a notch, UP's South Local heads south on Main 1 through Hogan's Alley. The observation tower at Elitch's Amusement Park is clearly visible in the distance. The local runs on Monday's and Friday's, switching industries along the north end of the Joint Line. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104541 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Hogans Alley Denver, CO 1873 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF President's Day 2014 ended up being the first time I personally saw one of Norfolk Southern's Heritage Units. Specifically, the Pennsy unit (NS 8102). It came to Denver the day before on a BNSF manifest. It had a quick turnaround and was headed back south in the afternoon on BNSF's HDENAMS (Denver, CO to Amarillo, TX). Unfortunately, as seen here, the heritage unit did not lead. However, one of the few "New Image" or "Swoosh" painted BNSF C44-9Ws was on the point. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104542 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Hogans Alley Denver, CO 1774 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF, NS A quick roster shot of both BNSF 5282 and NS 8102. Both are somewhat unique (as of this date). While BNSF 5282 might not seem particularly special, it is actually one of the few "New Image" (or "Swoosh") C44-9Ws on BNSF's roster. They haven't repainted too many C44-9Ws yet in the latest scheme. NS 8102, of course, is one of Norfolk Southern's numerous heritage units. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104543 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Hogans Alley Denver, CO 2119 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Norfolk Southern NS 8102 is the first of the 20 heritage units that Norfolk Southern released a few years ago that I have seen. The unit came to Denver on a BNSF manifest as part of a power share. It was in town for less than 24 hours, departing south on President's Day. The Pennsylvania Railroad started in 1946 and was the largest railroad in the United States (in terms of traffic and revenue) for the first half of the 20th century. In its history, it actually had a budget larger than the US government and had a workforce of 250,000 people. In 1968, it merged with New York Central to create Penn Central. Eight years later, Penn Central became a part of Conrail. Finally, Conrail was split in 1999 with 58% going to Norfolk Southern. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104544 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed South Denver Denver, CO 2021 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF More often than not, South Denver is a pretty good place to find a few parked trains. When there is insufficient space in BNSF's Denver Yard and/or insufficient crews, northbounds coming off the Joint Line will frequently tie down on Main 2 or Main 3 along the triple track, starting at South Denver. They never tie down on Main 1. Granted at least one main needs to remain open, but it is always Main 1 because Main 1 is actually owned by UP. Main 2 and Main 3 are both owned by BNSF. Granted BNSF dispatches all three mains. BNSF also had trains tied down in the sidings at LoDo and Hogan's Alley. In this shot, a pair of coal empties sit on Main 2 (closest) and Main 3 (furthest) at South Denver, awaiting crews that will take them north. Main 1 lies empty in the foreground. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104545 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Littleton Littleton, CO 1964 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF For southbounds, Littleton marks the location where CTC (and three main tracks) is left behind in favor of TWC/ABS (and only two main tracks). While southbounds may find themselves on any of the three tracks leading up to Littleton, south of Littleton they nearly always find themselves on Main 1. Such is the case here as a pair of GEs lead a BNSF manifest south on Main 1. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104546 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Titan Road Littleton, CO 2043 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF This was the proverbial "money shot" for the day of the Norfolk Southern "Pennsy" Heritage Unit. While it was disappointing that the heritage unit was on the point, it was nice that it was facing southbound. This picture was taken from the Titan Road overpass on the south side of Littleton. If you look closely, you can see two deer bouncing around on the far right side of the picture. One of these deer was just a jump away from never seeing another sunrise! Fortunately, it jump left instead of right, which would have landed it directly in front of the plow. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104547 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Titan Road Littleton, CO 1924 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Norfolk Southern One last shot of the Pennsy Heritage Unit for the day...and, considering how it is in fact a Norfolk Southern unit, quick possibly the last ever! Who knows If I'll have the chance again. It was a fun chase though and I was glad I finally got to see at least one of the NS Heritage Units in person. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104548 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Military Jct (MP 10) Sheridan, CO 1930 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific A pair of GP40-2s slowly backs down toward Cedar Creek on the branch at Military Junction. The grade here is actually quite steep (in railroad terms). The local backs down the branch about a half mile to Western Metals Recycling. Western Metals fills gondolas with scrap metal...hence all the (empty) gondolas seen in this shot. All-Coast Forest Products will also take delivery of a center beam or boxcar (or two) of lumber. Those were at the end of the local and out of the frame here. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104549 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Military Jct (MP 10) Sheridan, CO 2109 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific Shots like this just take me back to my childhood! I have always (and will always) LOVE the EMD Spartan Cab. Here, the South Local makes a safety stop on the Military Junction branch leading to Western Metals by Cedar Creek. You can see the intersection at South Natches Ct in the background. Note the "double green" traffic signal, indicating the local is clear to back across South Natches Ct. This prevents the traffic signal from giving a green signal across the tracks and enables a "no right turn" electronic sign for traffic approaching Oxford on Natches Ct. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104550 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 17, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Military Jct (MP 10) Sheridan, CO 1994 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific The last shot of the day on this President's Day. A former Espee GP40-2 (now UP 1456) and a former Espee GP40P-2 (now UP 1373) work the South Local on the branch at Military Junction leading to the industries at Cedar Creek. The GP40P-2 is now just a GP40-2 and has been for nearly thirty years! The steam generator was removed in 1985. But the extended long hood still remains. Unfortunately, some graffiti has appeared on the long hood. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.