Rocky Mountain Railroad Club

News & Current Events

This page shows interesting railroad happenings as well as breaking railroad news. Check it often as you may learn the location or schedule of some interesting equipment in time to go out and get some great photographs! If you do go photo 'fanning, please share your pictures with us. Please contact News Page Webmaster Wally Weart.

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February 4, 2010

Some local BNSF action

BNSF 6014, a GE model ES44AC, passed United Railroad track gang working on Keenesburg, Colorado, grain elevator track. Train came from Lincoln, Nebraska, running to BNSF's 31st Street Yard, Denver, CO. Š2010 Chip February 3, 2010. BNSF 6014 West had Department of Defense flatcars loaded with Army M1A2 Abrams tanks rolling through Lochbuie, CO, February 3, 2010.

BNSF had two "heritage schemes" on their Denver, CO, to Chicago, IL, train Z-DENCHI9-03A. BNSF Dash 9-44CW 778 was delivered in the Santa Fe inspired warbonnet scheme. UP 6231 was delivered as Southern Pacific 180, a General Electric model AC4400CW built in May 1995 renumbered by Union Pacific October 13, 2005. Train was on BNSF's Brush Line at Long Bridge Road, milepost 470.7, west of Fort Morgan, CO. Š2010 Chip February 3, 2010. BNSF's Brush Line meet - BNSF 6314 and 5996 on coal empty E SLPRWM 028A (headed for Rawhide Mine, WY) met BNSF 6014 West, Lincoln, NE, to Denver, CO, train with Army Abrams tanks at Keenesburg, CO, Feb. 3, 2010. BNSF's new ES44AC power was evident on both trains. All photos Š2010 Chip

Having not been used in fifteen months the crossing at Taft Road at Milepost 202 was packed with frozen mud and snow. Coal hoppers were stored on both sides of the crossing. Once the ice was cleared from the intersection, the train on the west side of the crossing shoved the cars east to couple onto the mile long string on the east side of the crossing. Colby, Kansas, January 29, 2010. Heading west at this point UP 6787 (SP) 6304, and UP 6807 were pulling two miles of hoppers. The train was about to cross the northern crossing of Country Club Drive. Motorist were surprised to see the crossing gates go down. A speeding cement truck could not stop and nearly crashed the gates as he swerved to miss the lowering gates. Colby, Kansas January 29, 2010.

UP 6787, (SP) 6304, and UP 6807 were pulling the stiff grade out of Colby as the train crossed East Pine Street. At this point the train was heading southeast. Colby, Kansas, January 29, 2010. The train was pulling the grade across the southern crossing of Country Club Drive. In the far distant background, the middle of the train was moving west across the northern crossing of Country Club Drive. Colby, Kansas, January 29, 2010.

After passing milepost 204 on the east side of Country Club Drive, the train begins to get out of the developed parts of Colby The elevators in the background are Cornerstone Ag (Hi Plains CO-OP and Cooper). Both elevators ship their grain by truck to Cornerstone's elevator on the far southeast side of Colby. January 29, 2010. Waiting on the lead track to Cornerstone Ag UP 6422, 5956, and 7262 wait while the coal train passes by on the mainline. Halfway through, the train was split and the three units were coupled in as mid train units. Colby, Kansas January 29, 2010. All photos Š2010 Larry Dilts

A very colorful consist on the BNSF

Alan Schenkel found H-DENLAU with another nifty consist: SD70ACe 9247-Warbonnet 4703-Warbonnet 748-yellowbonnet 1923, some other colors for a change. Š2010 Alan Schenkel

A Rock Island heritage unit

This was painted by Mid-American Car, Kansas City and will be used by the Iowa Interstate that operates over old Rock Island trackage.

BNSF snow fighting in Nebraska

BNSF rotary BN 972559 on Bradshaw, Nebraska, siding was passed by an eastbound BNSF coal train at sunrise January 13, 2010. Š2010 Chip in eastern Nebraska BNSF's rotary cleared the Aurora to Hastings, Nebraska line (Giltner Subdivision 26-miles long) where 15-foot drifts were encountered. BN 972559 history: ex-Northern Pacific 47, ex NP 46, nee CR&NW X-4 was built by ALCo (Cooke) September 1915 builder number #54787. It was converted from steam power in 1966. Rotary is electric powered from RSPU #972572 (BN 972572 is a EMD B-unit). BN 972559 and power unit BN 972572 were approaching Interstate 80 about 3-miles southwest of Aurora, NE, January 13, 2010. Š2010 Chip.

Snow covered tracks next to whistle (W) sign were cleared by BNSF's Alliance, NE, based rotary BN 972559 and power unit BN 972572. Š2010 Chip January 13, 2010 southwest of Aurora, Nebraska. Sunrise found BNSF's Jordan spreader BN 972673 ready to clear snow along BNSF eastern Nebraska lines. At left was Cargill remote locomotive RE 807, Alco S2, that works the Bradshaw, NE, elevators. The Cargill switcher is ex- RELCO 1071, Port. Terminal 41. Š2010 Chip January 13, 2010 Bradshaw, Nebraska.

A little problem for BNSF in the Stock Yards District

Our excitement at Denver Stockyards - BNSF was pulling cars from Denver Rock Island RR on Thursday, January 7, 2010, when three cars went on the ground. National Western Stock Show folks had a new exhibit. Š2010 Chip

A Snowy Amtrak train

Amtrak No. 6 at Omaha earlier this week - the trip from hell

SL&RG Power on the move

Union Pacific's North Yard hosted San Luis & Rio Grande RR SD9043AC 115 and 116 January 4, 2010. Units departed that evening on the North Yard to Pueblo, CO, train. Š2010 Chip @ Denver, CO. Rio Grande Scenic Ski Train power, San Luis & Rio Grande (SLRG) RR painted (burgundy and yellow) 115 and 116 were on the Old West track at North Yard, Denver, CO, with UP 1989 the Rio Grande Heritage unit on the snow bus. The SLRG units moved on Union Pacific's North Yard, Denver to Pueblo, CO, train that evening, January 4, 2010, bound for Alamosa, CO. The Ski Train did not run since Amtrak and Iowa Pacific Holdings could not reach an agreement regarding liability insurance. UP 1989 was coupled to UPP 430 bay window caboose which transports train crews during snowstorms. Š2010 Chip photo from 48th Street overpass.

News from Laramie

There has been a lot of activity at the Laramie Railroad Heritage Park the past few months and David Lucke sent a few photos from Saturday (January 2). A group of volunteers rang in the New Year with the sound of hammering spikes while laying track for a display in Wyoming’s newest railroad park. The Laramie Railroad Heritage Park is located in downtown Laramie and will feature a snow train made up of preserved railroad equipment.

Equipment moves are expected to take place in January. The 1950’s era train will include a caboose and engine currently displayed in Laramie at separate locations as well as a bunk car and snow plow that have been saved from the cutting torch by volunteer efforts and donations.

Wyoming action

This image by Dave Schaaf is from 17 December 2009, taken near the west load-out for Black Thunder mine in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. BNSF 8842 was making track speed toward the south end of coal country. At right is a Union Pacific train just leaving the branch from the main Black Thunder mine.

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BNSF 6014, a GE model ES44AC, passed United Railroad track gang working on Keenesburg, Colorado, grain elevator track. Train came from Lincoln, Nebraska, running to BNSF's 31st Street Yard, Denver, CO. Š2010 Chip February 3, 2010.	BNSF 6014 West had Department of Defense flatcars loaded with Army M1A2 Abrams tanks rolling through Lochbuie, CO, February 3, 2010.

BNSF had two "heritage schemes" on their Denver, CO, to Chicago, IL, train Z-DENCHI9-03A. BNSF Dash 9-44CW 778 was delivered in the Santa Fe inspired warbonnet scheme. UP 6231 was delivered as Southern Pacific 180, a General Electric model AC4400CW built in May 1995 renumbered by Union Pacific October 13, 2005. Train was on BNSF's Brush Line at Long Bridge Road, milepost 470.7, west of Fort Morgan, CO. Š2010 Chip February 3, 2010.	BNSF's Brush Line meet - BNSF 6314 and 5996 on coal empty E SLPRWM 028A (headed for Rawhide Mine, WY) met BNSF 6014 West, Lincoln, NE, to Denver, CO, train with Army Abrams tanks at Keenesburg, CO, Feb. 3, 2010. BNSF's new ES44AC power was evident on both trains. All photos Š2010 Chip


Having not been used in fifteen months the crossing at Taft Road at Milepost 202 was packed with frozen mud and snow. Coal hoppers were stored on both sides of the crossing. Once the ice was cleared from the intersection, the train on the west side of the crossing shoved the cars east to couple onto the mile long string on the east side of the crossing. Colby, Kansas, January 29, 2010.	Heading west at this point UP 6787 (SP) 6304, and UP 6807 were pulling two miles of hoppers. The train was about to cross the northern crossing of Country Club Drive. Motorist were surprised to see the crossing gates go down. A speeding cement truck could not stop and nearly crashed the gates as he swerved to miss the lowering gates. Colby, Kansas January 29, 2010.

UP 6787, (SP) 6304, and UP 6807 were pulling the stiff grade out of Colby as the train crossed East Pine Street. At this point the train was heading southeast. Colby, Kansas, January 29, 2010.	The train was pulling the grade across the southern crossing of Country Club Drive. In the far distant background, the middle of the train was moving west across the northern crossing of Country Club Drive. Colby, Kansas, January 29, 2010.

After passing milepost 204 on the east side of Country Club Drive, the train begins to get out of the developed parts of Colby The elevators in the background are Cornerstone Ag (Hi Plains CO-OP and Cooper). Both elevators ship their grain by truck to Cornerstone's elevator on the far southeast side of Colby. January 29, 2010.	Waiting on the lead track to Cornerstone Ag UP 6422, 5956, and 7262 wait while the coal train passes by on the mainline. Halfway through, the train was split and the three units were coupled in as mid train units. Colby, Kansas January 29, 2010. All photos Š2010 Larry Dilts


BNSF rotary BN 972559 on Bradshaw, Nebraska, siding was passed by an eastbound BNSF coal train at sunrise January 13, 2010. Š2010 Chip in eastern Nebraska	BNSF's rotary cleared the Aurora to Hastings, Nebraska line (Giltner Subdivision 26-miles long) where 15-foot drifts were encountered. BN 972559 history: ex-Northern Pacific 47, ex NP 46, nee CR&NW X-4 was built by ALCo (Cooke) September 1915 builder number #54787. It was converted from steam power in 1966. Rotary is electric powered from RSPU #972572 (BN 972572 is a EMD B-unit). BN 972559 and power unit BN 972572 were approaching Interstate 80 about 3-miles southwest of Aurora, NE, January 13, 2010. Š2010 Chip.

Snow covered tracks next to whistle (W) sign were cleared by BNSF's Alliance, NE, based rotary BN 972559 and power unit BN 972572. Š2010 Chip January 13, 2010 southwest of Aurora, Nebraska.	Sunrise found BNSF's Jordan spreader BN 972673 ready to clear snow along BNSF eastern Nebraska lines. At left was Cargill remote locomotive RE 807, Alco S2, that works the Bradshaw, NE, elevators. The Cargill switcher is ex- RELCO 1071, Port. Terminal 41. Š2010 Chip January 13, 2010 Bradshaw, Nebraska.


Our excitement at Denver Stockyards - BNSF was pulling cars from Denver Rock Island RR on Thursday, January 7, 2010, when three cars went on the ground. National Western Stock Show folks had a new exhibit. Š2010 Chip


Amtrak No. 6 at Omaha earlier this week - the trip from hell


There has been a lot of activity at the Laramie Railroad Heritage Park the past few months and David Lucke sent a few photos from Saturday (January 2). A group of volunteers rang in the New Year with the sound of hammering spikes while laying track for a display in Wyoming’s newest railroad park. The Laramie Railroad Heritage Park is located in downtown Laramie and will feature a snow train made up of preserved railroad equipment.

Equipment moves are expected to take place in January. The 1950’s era train will include a caboose and engine currently displayed in Laramie at separate locations as well as a bunk car and snow plow that have been saved from the cutting torch by volunteer efforts and donations.