Photo ID: 109568 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Castle Rock Castle Rock, CO 240 (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: 109567 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 231 (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: 109566 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 313 (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: 109565 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 210 (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: 109564 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 283 (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: 109563 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Larkspur, CO 235 (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: 109562 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sed Sedalia, CO 240 (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: 109561 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sedalia Sedalia, CO 196 (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: 109560 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sedalia Sedalia, CO 202 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific A pair of UP AC4400CWs pull a pair of FRA cars south on Main 1 in Sedalia. The FRA does indeed do periodic testing throughout the rail system in the United States. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109559 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Orsa Castle Rock, CO 215 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF The town of Castle Rock, like all towns along the Front Range, continues to grow. New commercial buildings have been built (and continue to be built) along Main 1, one of which is ready to lease! Meanwhile, yet another coal train rolls south. An act that has been repeated tens of thousands of times over the years. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109558 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Orsa Douglas County, CO 254 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF Even though the Joint Line has two tracks and directional running, there is still one siding along Main 1 between Sedalia and Castle Rock. It is the siding of Orsa. Even with the addition of CTC to the Joint Line, the siding is still just has hand throws at either end and likely hasn't been used in years. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109557 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sedalia Sedalia, CO 277 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF This shot really highlights the location where the original Santa Fe grade crossed over (on a bridge) the original Rio Grande grade. With the creation of the Joint Line in World War 1, the bridge was removed and the tracks now run parallel through here, with a crossover between Main 1 and Main 2. The head end of this train is technically on track owned by BNSF while the back of the train is technically on track owned by UP. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109556 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 2, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sedalia Sedalia, CO 217 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF A southbound BNSF coal load runs through an S-Curve on the south side of "downtown" Sedalia on the Joint Line. Main 1 is generally used for southbound traffic, has CTC (Centralized Traffic Control), and is controlled/dispatched by BNSF in Fort Worth. Main 2, which is located in the foreground, has TWC/ABS (Track Warrant Control with Automatic Block Signals), and is controlled/dispatched by UP in Omaha. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108944 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, January 22, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Kalamath Street Denver, CO 406 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF BNSF 9027 has come to a stop on Main 1 a few hundred feet away from Kalamath Street along I-25. The crew of the train is actually tying the train down on Main 1. The SUV to the right will take the crew back to the yard office. Typically, southbounds are tied down in the siding known as Hogan's Alley. However, as you can see, there is already a train tied down there. So, for the time being, Main 2 will the only track open in either direction between Walnut Street and South Denver. In the distance, Longs Peak stands tall at 14,259 feet above sea level. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108481 Date Shot Photo By Saturday, September 5, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed South of Acequia Highlands Ranch, CO 954 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF A southbound coal load skirts the west edge of Highlands Ranch, CO as a fresh crew takes the train up grade on Main 1. There are a few trails in this area near Acequia that tend to see a lot of joggers and bicyclists. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Previous Page     Next Page