While the line itself technically isn't abandoned, the CTC system absolutely is. A look inside the signal cabinet at west Tennessee Pass reveals cut wires and broken glass everywhere. If Tennessee Pass ever were to become active again with CTC, a completely new CTC system would have to be installed.
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It would appear the the signal control box at the west switch of Tennessee Pass has moved around a bit over the course of its life. You can pretty clearly see "Arvada" painted over on the box. And, if you look even closer, it appears "Arvada" was painted over something that starts with a "P". Even closer examination reveals what appears to be an "A" and an "L". That being the case would mean this box also spent time at Palisade near Grand Junction.
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A look through the tunnel at the summit of Tennessee Pass as seen from the top of the signal at the west end of the siding. This view should be obscured, but since the signal head itself has been removed, it is a clear shot!
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Here it is! The very top of Tennessee Pass and, at the time of the idling of Tennessee Pass, the highest Class 1 rail line in the United States at 10,221 feet above sea level. The tunnel is about a half mile long and looks - from this shot - to be clear of any major obstructions.
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This is the sight eastbound trains would see as they emerged from the Tennessee Pass tunnel at the summit. Well, okay...almost the sight they'd see. Assuming all the masts in the shot actually had their signal heads!
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This is one of the saddest sights I saw the entire day during the visit to Tennessee Pass! Over the years, UP has been cannibalizing the CTC system on the pass to use the components in other areas. Case-in-point would be the missing signal head from the signal at west Tennessee Pass. The best indication a train could get here is now "where-is-the-signal-head-over-yellow".
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Apologies for the bad lighting. This is definitely a spot that lends itself to morning light. Regardless, this is looking westbound at Mitchell, just a few miles west of the summit. Once upon a time, there was a siding here which Rio Grande decided to remove.
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Looking east about halfway through the siding of Pando we can see a couple evergreens, in addition to all the weeds, growing in the middle of the siding.
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Even though I never got to shoot a train here personally, Pando has always been among my favorite spots along Tennessee Pass. Looking west toward the US-24 overpass, some major bushes are growing just beyond the overpass that have totally enveloped the siding and are nearing the main.
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What I wouldn't have given to have a westbound come winding along the Eagle River here on the approach to east Belden! This is the view from the US-24 overpass high above the valley floor near Red Cliff.
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Near the east switch of Belden, several relatively large rocks have come down on to the siding. During the couple hours I spent along the tracks between Minturn and Buena Vista, this was the most significant instance of rocks on the tracks that I noticed. Granted, I couldn't see every foot of track along the way.
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US-24 crossed over the Eagle River and the Tennessee Pass mainline from a very high bridge near Red Cliff, CO. The lighting here is certainly better in the morning, but you can see the signal at east Belden standing around the corner from the switch.
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Looking east (into the sun) from the US-24 overpass east of Minturn, the aspens are on fire along the Tennessee Pass mainline. About two more miles to the east in this shot is the start of the 2-mile-long siding of Belden.
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Looking west from the US-24 overpass about two miles east of Minturn, the fall colors are looking mighty fine along the Tennessee Pass mainline. Sure would like to catch an eastbound starting its climb toward the 3% grade here.
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This caught my eye in the yard at Minturn...I found it rather ironic that this derail in the yard is in fact aligned for the derail position! Ensuring the phantom cars do not roll onto the mainline that will have no traffic coming.
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