Photo ID: 104551 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, February 18, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Ridge Road Arvada, CO 1617 (2 Comments Posted) Subdivision Railroad Golden (BNSF) BNSF On the way home after work, I was driving on Ridge Road and spied headlights on an approaching westbound on BNSF's Golden Sub. The headlights belonged to the Golden Switch, a local headed back to the yard at Golden. Note the tracks to the left. These tracks will ultimately serve as the commuter rail for the "Gold Line". This is a part of the FasTracks project that was started after a voter-approved tax increase in 2004. The line is scheduled to open in 2016. Tracks are being laid early here as BNSF will actually use the tracks temporarily (as a shoofly) so the existing tracks the local is on can be moved south (to the right). BNSF requires 25 feet of separation between their tracks and the commuter tracks. Otherwise, a retaining wall must be built (to protect the BNSF tracks from a possible commuter train derailment). To avoid that expense, BNSFs tracks will be shifted. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104552 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, February 18, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Ridge Road Arvada, CO 1736 (1 Comment Posted) Subdivision Railroad Golden (BNSF) BNSF Considering the fact that it is a branch line, the Golden Sub is still fairly busy during the course of a 24 hour period. There are four "Beer Run" trains: two from Denver to Golden and two from Golden to Denver. The Beer Run primarily serves the Coors Brewing plant in Golden. However, the westbound Beer Run also brings cars for industries along the line. Those cars are dropped and sorted in a small yard in Golden. Then, five days a week, BNSF's Golden Switch runs east out of the yard in Golden and switches industries all along the track. In this scene, the Golden Switch is headed back for the yard in Golden. Its switching duties done for the day. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104553 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, February 18, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Ridge Road Arvada, CO 1363 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Golden (BNSF) BNSF For many years now, the Golden Switch has always utilized a pair of SD40-2s to perform all its switching duties. About three weeks ago, that changed as on of the SD40-2s was swapped for BNSF 2572, a GP35u. While it has been rebuilt, it still retains the standard GP35 car body, complete with a smaller center radiator fan! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104554 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, February 18, 2014 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Ridge Road Arvada, CO 1388 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Golden (BNSF) BNSF With its switching duties for the day complete, the Golden Switch wobbles west down the Golden Sub back toward Golden at the foot of the Colorado Rockies. You can clearly see in this picture that the branch line has jointed rail and the max speed on the line is 20 MPH. If you are a beer drinker and enjoy Coors' products, then there is a pretty good chance your beer once rolled down these exact rails! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.