I sure wish I had had the opportunity to get shots here at Minturn Yard before Tennessee Pass was railbanked by Union Pacific. That railbanking occurred just over 28 years ago, and these rails have been silent ever since. In all likelihood, they will never see another train run on them again.
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We look east in the yard at Minturn, noting a few rocks that have fallen and landed on or near the tracks. You can also see the crossovers that were once used to bring helpers out of the yard and cut them in as mid-train swing helpers on eastbound trains looking to tackle the 3% grade between Minturn and the top of Tennessee Pass.
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Not unique to the yard at Minturn, but actually becoming somewhat common all over Tennessee Pass, trees have grown up right in the middle of tracks. This small bunch of trees are indeed in the middle of the yard. Of course, it is of little difference to Union Pacific!
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The old engine shop as Minturn Yard looks like it might be used for something else these days. Not sure if Union Pacific sold it or if they are simply leasing it out to someone else. But fencing has been built across a few of the yard tracks in the long-defunct yard at Minturn.
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Three decades ago, these tracks in the yard at Minturn would have been filled with power waiting to cut in to an eastbound coal load and help the train up the 3% grade of Tennessee Pass. The rails have now been silent for 28 years as new homes continue to be built in the area.
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A look toward the east end of Minturn on Tennessee Pass shows the damage done by a huge rock that landed here on the rails over a decade ago. Of course, there is no reason for Union Pacific to repair the rails here as the line hasn't seen a train now in a little over 28 years.
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Over ten years ago, near the east end of Minturn on Tennessee Pass, two huge rocks ("Lions Head") came loose from the mountain side ahead and landed right in the middle of the right-of-way. Someone (presumably Union Pacific) has since shoved the rocks off to the side of the right-of-way, but the main and siding remain smashed and destroyed.
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At the east end of Minturn, we look through the hole of a dwarf signal that no longer contains a lamp on railbanked Tennessee Pass.
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Looking east at the west end of Tennessee Pass siding, we find the remains of the signals on both the main and the siding. One thing I find interesting is all the angle bars lining the siding. Most of those are bolted on to the rail where there is not actually a joint!
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The CTC equipment at the west switch of Tennessee Pass is showing its age! The power switch has been totally pillaged for parts. The upper signal head is completely missing, and rust and old ties run rampant. If UP ever did decide to reopened Tennessee Pass, they'd have their work cut out in getting the line back online.
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This was one the highest location of any mainline track in the United States. At 10,220 feet, it is an impressive passing over the Continental Divide. When in operation, a curtain could be closed on either side of the tunnel to keep snow and ice out of the tunnel during the harsh winter months.
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Looking west through Tennessee Pass Tunnel from the perspective of the rail head! The tunnel portal has seen its fair share of graffiti in the past two decades. The rails, unsurprisingly, have a significant layer of rust on them.
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A look at the east portal of Tennessee Pass Tunnel. It has now been nearly 21 years since a train passed beneath the Continental Divide through this 1/2 mile long tunnel.
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When a multi-ton boulder came crashing down on the mainline on Tennessee Pass at Minturn, it created a mini crater in places. One such place was right in the middle of part of the mainline. It made it easy to get this shot at the railhead eye level, looking east.
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The welded rail of the mainline of Tennessee Pass lies pinned and broken underneath a boulder that came tumbling down from the hillside near east Minturn.
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