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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Just around the corner from Tunnel 49, this once-weekly manifest has completed most of the steepest parts of the climb between Bond and Phippsburg.
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This 70-car manifest on the Craig Branch is leaving Volcano behind and is approaching the east portal of Tunnel 49.
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At the west switch of Volcano, this westbound UP manifest is making its way from Bond to Phippsburg. Volcano was named after a now-extinct volcano here in the area. It is the longest siding between Bond and Phippsburg at 7,470 feet. 20 years ago when multiple coal trains ran each day through here, Volcano was the only siding between Bond and Phippsburg long enough to accommodate meets.
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Rock Creek Canyon is a tremendously scenic part of the (former) Rio Grande. You can see the tracks to the right and the left. The tracks head away from the camera roughly one mile and then come back out, slowly gaining altitude. You can see the westbound manifest on the left, exiting the canyon. Note the substantial difference in elevation between the tracks to the right and the tracks to the left. A little fall foliage at the base of the canyon is just an added bonus.
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Three GEs lead this westbound manifest, consisting almost exclusively of frac sand, as the head end crosses the bridges in Rock Creek Canyon. The train is also in Tunnel 48, Tunnel 47 (hidden behind Tunnel 48), and Tunnel 46.
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This westbound manifest is existing Tunnel 46 and is approaching Tunnel 47 deep in Rock Creek Canyon.
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Routt County Road 4 runs from CO-131 from McCoy up to Crater. It is a dirt road that crosses the tracks at two grade crossing in close proximity at the Crater Loops. UP 6362 is approaching the upper grade crossing right now.
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