Photo ID: 109561 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sedalia Sedalia, CO 138 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Federal Railroad Administration Commissioned in 2004, the FRA sends its "Gage Restraint Measurement Vehicle" out and over railroads around the United States. Beyond testing the gauge of rails, I am not certain what other functions it provides. If you look, you can see a fifth axle a little over halfway back. This is the axle that tests the gauge, and can be raised when testing is not in progress. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109562 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sed Sedalia, CO 177 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Federal Railroad Administration The FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) has a handful of cars that it owns and can use for trips around the country. DOTX 220, which is part of the FRA Office of Safety, is paired with a gauge testing car on this particular day on the Joint Line. Note the lasers emanating from the bottom of the car, scanning for any defects that might require slow orders and repairs. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109563 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 167 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF At the famous Santa Fe bridge on the south edge of Larkspur, a southbound BNSF coal load, with an ES44AC and an SD70ACe, grind slowly up the grade. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109564 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 213 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF A slightly different view of a very commonly photographed bridge on the south edge of Larkspur. This Santa Fe bridge spans West Fox Farm Road (closer), East Plum Creek, and Spruce Mountain Road (distant). As is quite common on BNSF coal loads, a pair of DPUs, an SD70ACe and an ES44AC, bring up the tail end of this southbound. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109565 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 150 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF Moving away from the camera, this southbound coal load has passed an intermediate signal (now red) in the distance on its way to Greenland and Palmer Lake. Note the black and yellow "35" sign, tilted at a roughly 45° angle. This indicates there is a speed change to 35 MPH maximum coming up. Not that such a speed limit is of any concern to this coal load, which is barely making 10 MPH with all units throttled to the max in run 8. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109566 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 242 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific, Federal Railroad Administration A very short train, consisting of two cars belonging to the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration), crosses over the classic Santa Fe bridge on the south edge of Larkspur. Indeed, nearly 30 years after the end of Santa Fe, lettering and heralds for Santa Fe can still be made out, though very faded. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109567 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 166 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Federal Railroad Administration Two UP units lead two FRA units south toward an approach (yellow) signal. The FRA inspection train is on the heals of a BNSF coal load, so running slow is going to be the order of the day. Note the red laser from underneath the last car, indicating the FRA is actively testing the track. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109568 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Castle Rock Castle Rock, CO 173 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF Just south of Castle Rock and we find a lot going on! As a southbound BNSF coal load approaches, it parallels the west Frontage Range road which runs alongside the (significantly busier) I-25. There is also an east Frontage Road on the opposite side of I-25. The rock which is the namesake of the city of Castle Rock stands tall in the background. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109569 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP 363 Castle Rock, CO 153 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF When BNSF installed CTC on Main 1 on the Joint Line a few years ago, they included two "control points" absolute signals between Sedalia and Palmer Lake. CP 363, seen here, is one of those control points. This was done so track and time could be issued to maintenance, allowing trains to still run on opposite sides of the control points. Pro Tip: How can you know this is an "absolute" signal (dispatcher controlled) and not an "intermediate" signal? The lack of milepost plates on the signal masts are dead giveaways. Intermediate signals have milepost plates, while absolute signals do not. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109570 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Acequia Douglas County, CO 136 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF Near the north end of the Joint Line, a southbound BNSF coal train is taking on the ruling grade for the climb to Palmer Lake. The second unit on the head end, an SD70MAC, is burping up a bit more (visible) exhaust than is normal. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109571 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Littleton Littleton, CO 197 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF A BNSF manifest headed for Amarillo, TX officially starts the climb to Palmer Lake, passing through the control point at Littleton. Here, the CTC triple track ends and it is Main 1 (now CTC and under the control of BNSF) all the way to Palmer Lake. While manifest generally make better speeds than coal loads on the Joint Line, this manifest will be encountering yellow signals soon enough as it trails a coal load just a few miles ahead. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109572 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed South of Littleton Littleton, CO 153 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF For several miles south of Denver, through Englewood and Littleton, RTD's Light Rail (D-Line) parallels the Joint Line. This stop at Mineral Avenue is the last one for Light Rail to the south. Incidentally, one this that is quite remarkable about the Joint Line between here and South Denver is the elimination of grade crossing in the past 40 years. Every single grade crossing that once existed in this five miles of track is now gone! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109573 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed South of Littleton Littleton, CO 149 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF BNSF's Denver to Amarillo manifest (HDENAMS) parallels US-85 and crosses over an overflow outlet for the nearby (man-made) McLellen Reservoir. Construction along US-85 is the name of the game this summer and fall! Incidentally, the lead unit, BNSF 6610, is one of the first 25 ES44C4s delivered to BNSF as part of a pilot program. The program was successful, as over 1,200 subsequent units have been delivered. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109574 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Englewood Englewood, CO 150 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF A northbound BNSF manifest is tied down on Main 3 at Englewood. It would seem that there was no room in the yard at Denver when the train got to this point, so it was tied down. Once room in the yard opens up, no doubt a crew will retrieve the train and bring it the rest of the way in. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109575 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Englewood Englewood, CO 182 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific Alongside Oxford Avenue in Englewood, UP's South Local switches out a lumber yard and a recycling plant. This short track connects in with Main 1 on the Joint Line on the east side of Santa Fe Drive. The rest of the train is actually sitting on Main 1, waiting for the power to return. With the trains currently tied down on Main 3, this means BNSF's Fort Worth dispatcher only has Main 2 available for both northbound and southbound trains through the area. 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