ColoradoRailfan.com » Photo Gallery » Photo Search » View Photos

Previous Page     Next Page

Photo ID: 102338
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 52
Palmer Lake, CO
1932
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
I must admit that I wasn't crazy about BNSF's New Image paint scheme when it was first released. However, it has grown on me quite a bit, and I particularly like the change to black in the paint scheme. Here, a very new (isolated cab) SD70ACe has gone into dynamics at Palmer Lake to help control the speed of the coal load as it descends toward Colorado Springs. I particularly like the silver trucks/fuel tank on the new scheme.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102337
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Palmer Lake (MP 52)
Palmer Lake, CO
1886
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
At Palmer Lake, ABS and Track Warrants end, as do two tracks. This coal load is wrapping around the sound end of Palmer Lake on the single track (CTC) main. It is now 32 miles of single track (with four sidings) until double track starts again at Crews.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102336
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 50
Spruce, CO
1694
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
This BNSF coal load has reached the sag, about two miles north of Palmer Lake. This was once the location of a railroad crossover when the Santa Fe crossed the Rio Grande. This was prior to the Joint Line roughly 90 years ago! Now, with the formation of the Joint Line, southbounds on Main One descend down a grade from BNSF track to UP track.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102335
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 47
Spruce, CO
1771
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
Much of the terrain along the Joint Line between Castle Rock and Palmer Lake is very mountain-like. Lots of pine trees and hills. One possible exception is the open plains region near Spruce. Here, there is a large open valley with a few rolling hills and lots of open land. A BNSF coal train cuts through the middle on Main One as its trek to the "top of the hill" at Palmer Lake is almost complete.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102334
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 43
Larkspur, CO
2144
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
This Santa Fe bridge has been the subject of train photography for many years. Unfortunately, the "Santa Fe" lettering and heralds are quickly fading from the sides of the bridge. But at least they haven't been completely painted over yet! A BNSF coal load crosses the bridge (and Spruce Mountain Road) on its journey south toward Palmer Lake.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102333
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 36
Castle Rock, CO
2541
(2 Comments Posted)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
Sometimes train photography is about more than just the train. This cactus caught my eye, as well as the rapidly collapsing code line. I setup for this wide angle shot to try to incorporate all aspects of the scene into the frame.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102332
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 36
Castle Rock, CO
1900
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
The entire coal train can be seen in this shot as five units (three on the point and two on the rear) lead the train south. This train was loaded on the Utah Railway near Helper, UT. The coal is headed for the new GCC cement plant near Pueblo.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102331
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 33
Castle Rock, CO
1807
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
An ES44AC and a AC4400CW lead up this 120-car coal load as the train slowly makes it way up the 1.5% grade on Main One at Castle Rock. BNSF typically places four units (two on the point and two on the rear) on its coal train on the Joint Line and this train is no exception. The train is crawling along at 11 MPH!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102330
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 21
Louivers, CO
1951
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
21 miles south of Denver and BNSF 5959 has this 76-car coal load moving well at Louviers. The train is running on an approach signal as there is a longer, slower coal load not far ahead. Not the coal empty heading north on Main Two in the distance. The beauty of directional running!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102329
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 2
Denver, CO
2133
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
This BNSF coal load went through the Moffat Tunnel about eight hours before this picture was taken! The train was loaded by Utah Railway at the Wildcat Mine in Utah. Here, the train is on main two headed south, about to pass underneath the 6th Avenue bridge. Invesco Field at Mile High - home of the Denver Broncos - is visible in the distance (above the lead unit).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102328
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, September 6, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
20th Street
Denver, CO
1767
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
I was waiting here at 20th Street for a loaded BNSF coal train to come down from Prospect Junction (the track on the far left). The train loaded the day before on the Utah Railway near Helper, UT. Unfortunately, a different BNSF coal load (from the Powder River Basin) came along to tie down on the Lodo siding, so I had to settle for this shot!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102246
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Bragdon
Pueblo, CO
2909
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
The Joint Line in Colorado between Union Pacific and BNSF officially ends (at its southern point) at Bragdon. Here, the BNSF track is the western track, leading to the BNSF yard in Pueblo. Likewise, the UP track is the eastern track, leading to their yard. Here, a BNSF manifest is on the main track (the siding of Bragdon in the foreground) as it heads for Pueblo.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102245
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Palmer Lake
Palmer Lake, CO
2491
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF
There is a lot of green to be found at the "top of the hill" at Palmer Lake along the Joint Line in Colorado. BNSF's Denver to Kansas City (HDENKCK) has an elephant-style lash-up (including a Warbonnet) as the train enter the single track CTC.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102188
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, June 29, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
MP 3
Denver, CO
2260
(1 Comment Posted)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific
For about a half mile along "Hogan's Alley", the Joint Line parallels I-25. An empty UP rail train, coming from Mason City, IA, heads south Main 1 after meeting BNSF's "Kick-Den" (Kansas City to Denver manifest) on Main 2 a mile or so back.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 102187
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, June 29, 2008 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
20th Street
Denver, CO
1961
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific
This is the northern start of the 120-mile Joint Line in Colorado. MP 0.0 at 20th Street. An empty UP rail train comes down from Prospect Junction at North Yard, preparing to enter Main 1 to proceed south. Curving off to the right, BNSF tracks head toward their own 31st Street Yard.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Previous Page     Next Page

Check out ColoradoRailfan.com on Facebook
Check out the latest ColoradoRailfan.com photos on Flickr

ColoradoRailfan.com Email Subscription
To receive updates made to ColoradoRailfan.com via Email, Click Here.

The D&RGW Site Ring
This site owned by: Kevin Morgan
Add Your Site

SiteRing by Bravenet.com

SiteRing by Bravenet.com

All content ©2000,2026 by Kevin Morgan, except where noted. Please do not use any material from this site without permission. Thank You.