JOINT LINE – COColorado’s Joint line runs between Denver, CO and Pueblo, CO, passing through Colorado Springs, with trains of the BNSF and UP traversing the route. The line is a separated double track for much of the route, with single track between Palmer Lake and Colorado Springs. Steep grades slow trains both northbound and southbound, with the top of the grade at Palmer Lake. Virtually all southbound coal loads as well as many northbound coal empties have DPU’s to assist. |
MOFFAT LINE – COThe famed Moffat Tunnel Sub runs west from Denver, CO towards the Rocky Mountains, where the lines goes through the mountains, not around them. With 29 tunnels in the lines first 41 miles (the 29 tunnels are located in just 17 miles), the single track line features abundant photo opportunities. The Moffat Tunnel Sub runs between Denver, CO and Phippsburg, CO for a distance of 168 miles. Although a UP line, trains of the BNSF along with Amtrak are seen on the Denver to Bond portion of the line. |
ABO CANYON AREA – NMMajor changes were made several years ago for this section of the railroad located on the ex ATSF, now BNSF mainline across New Mexico. These images showcase the line just prior to the double track project. This short single track section of railroad features 7 bridges in the short 4.7 miles from East Sias, NM to Scholle, NM as the railroad passes through Abo Canyon. Work has begun on double tracking this bottleneck, which will improve operations on the busy transcon. This gallery features images from the Belen, NM area to the Mountainair, NM area. |
TWIN PEAKS SUB – CO/NMBetween Des Moines, NM and Trinidad, CO, the Twin Peaks sub is quite scenic, passing through small ranch towns, going around many horseshow curves, and traversing the high plains of Colorado and New Mexico. Beginning in 2005, the line is used for northbound trains only, with southbound trains traveling through La Junta and onto the Boise City Subdivision en route to Texas. |
POWDER RIVER BASIN – WYWith a train density that has to be seen to be appreciated, the Powder River Basin puts on a display of railroading at its finest. Unit trains, modern power, DPU’s, multi track operations, grades and curves, its all to be seen on the Orin Sub in Wyoming. Note the changes in images from 2006 and earlier and 2016. |
CRAWFORD HILL – NELines of the BNSF and UP that serve the Powder River Basin fan out in many directions. Crawford Hill in Western Nebraska features one such line. The double track line utilizes manned pushers for Crawford Hill. |
CANE CREEK SUB – UTLocated in Eastern UT, this branch leaves the UP mainline at Brendal, UT. Running south from Brendal, the line passes within several hundred yards of the entrance of Arches National Park. This relatively unvisited line sees a once a week train to the mine at Potash, and 6 days a week trains from the radioactive loading site at Emkay to the unloading site at Brendel. This line passes spectacular red rocks and even arches on its way to the mine at Potash, UT. |
STEAMImages of steam in the digital camera era. All steam images were taken in Colorado since July of 2004. |
1970s NJ – NY areaSome images of scanned slides in the Northern NJ and NY area, includes shots of the Erie-Lackawanna, CNJ, and NYS&W. |