Photo ID: 113250 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed "The Sag" Douglas County, CO 77 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF This southbound coal load is winding its way south on Main 1 through The Sag. With a telephoto lens, you can really see the winding of the track here, about two miles north of Palmer Lake. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113249 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed "The Sag" Douglas County, CO 69 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF A southbound coal load winds south through the S-Curve on Main 1 at "The Sag", a few miles north of Palmer Lake. You can clearly see the bridge abutment from over a century ago when Santa Fe's mainline crossed over Rio Grande mainline. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113248 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Greenland to Palmer Lake Douglas County, CO 42 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF BNSF typically keeps a "protection" unit on the stub track off of Main 1 just north of Palmer Lake. Southbound coal load typically can just make the climb up the grade from Denver to Palmer Lake with four units. However, if one fails, a rescue unit is needed. BNSF 6035 currently has that job, sitting and waiting on the stub track if or when it is needed. A southbound coal load, with all four of its unit online, pass by on Main 1. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113247 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Castle Rock, CO 49 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF A pair of SD70ACes bring up the tail end of a train carrying "black diamonds" (coal) on their way from Wyoming to Texas. A thin cloud layer has been hiding direct sunlight most of the morning. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113246 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Larkspur Castle Rock, CO 60 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF The classic view of a southbound as it crosses over West Fox Farm Road, East Plum Creek, and Spruce Mountain Road. The old "Santa Fe" lettering and herald are still barely visible, time definitely taking its toll. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113245 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Castle Rock to Larkspur Castle Rock, CO 55 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF BNSF 6064 just passed another green intermediate as it gets close to the south end of the "Castle Rock Corridor", where Main 1 parallels I-25 for a little over eight miles south of Castle Rock. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113244 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Castle Rock to Larkspur Castle Rock, CO 69 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF The Frontage Road on the west side of I-25 is currently closed due to construction of the Crystal Valley Parkway bridge, just visible in the distance. A southbound BNSF coal load rolls by the south end of the closure, which has been in place for over a year at this point. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113243 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Castle Rock to Larkspur Castle Rock, CO 55 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF Just south of Castle Rock, there is a bridge being built across I-25, the Frontage Roads on both sides of I-25, and Main 1. This is a continuation of the road Crystal Valley Parkway. As you can see in this picture, the bridge itself has been built. But there is still a lot of work to come as interchanges with I-25 are going to be built. The frontage road on the west side of I-25 is closed and has been completely torn up in places, but will eventually be reopened. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2027. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113242 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Acequia Douglas County, CO 44 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF Just south of Big Lift, a BNSF coal load is pulling up the 1.2% grade on the climb up Palmer Divide. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113241 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Acequia Douglas County, CO 60 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF An ES44AC and an SD70ACe lead a southbound loaded at the Black Thunder Mine in Wyoming in the Powder River Basin. It is likely headed to a power plant in Texas. The trees are still looking pretty good here Plum Creek south of Chatfield Reservoir. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113240 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, October 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Acequia Douglas County, CO 67 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) BNSF A southbound BNSF coal load is hard at work on Main 1 at Acequia near Chatfield Reservoir. Pikes Peak is visible in the distance as the train passes by some trees, many of whom have lost their leaves for the year, but a few are still sporting fall colors. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112897 Date Shot Photo By Friday, July 25, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Palmer Lake to Monument Palmer Lake, CO 349 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Amtrak A final look at this Amtrak special as it rolls south on the single track main between Palmer Lake and Monument. I had to get back up to Denver, so I was unable to chase the special any further south. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112896 Date Shot Photo By Friday, July 25, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Palmer Lake Palmer Lake, CO 358 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Amtrak On the south side of Palmer Lake, AMTK 22 and AMTK 134 are leading this Amtrak special south on the now-single track mainline on the Joint Line. The train is headed for the Transportation Technology Center just east of Pueblo, CO. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112895 Date Shot Photo By Friday, July 25, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Palmer Lake Palmer Lake, CO 349 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Amtrak At the "top of the hill", a reference to the highest point on the Palmer Divide at 7,297 feet (2,225 meters) above sea level, this Amtrak special is now on the single main track as it passes by Palmer Lake. As you can see, many people are out and enjoying the beautiful clear skies on this Friday morning, most likely unaware of the rare move passing by them. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112894 Date Shot Photo By Friday, July 25, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Greenland to Palmer Lake Douglas County, CO 310 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Amtrak This Amtrak Cascade's AIRO train set was built by Siemens in California. It is currently being taken by Amtrak to the TTC near Pueblo for testing. Of note, the Amtrak crew on this train are accompanied by a BNSF "pilot" crew. The Amtrak crew is, of course, not familiar with the Joint Line, so the BNSF crew goes with them to ensure the Amtrak crew knows everything they need to know about the route. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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