|
|
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 and contact News Page Webmaster Wally Weart.
Photo specs: 800 X 600, max of 1024 X 800 72 dpi or ppi is standard for the web. GIF or TIF is preferred as these are considered lossless versus lossy (A lossy compression (JPG) method is one where compressing data and then decompressing it retrieves data that may well be different from the original). I reduce some pictures to 559 x 380 if I put them side by side.
Click here to return to the home page
Please remember that the photos are copyrighted and neither the pictures or text can be used without permission of the owner.
The Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer power
After the blizzard
Warbonnets in Service
Colorado Railroad Museum Colorado Crossings May 14-14, 2022
A photo freight was also operated
![]() |
![]() |
Colorado Railroad Museum assembled photo freight with D&RGW 491, K-37, for the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club picnic held Sunday, May 15, 2022. The 7-car train passed the turntable and engine house where Rio Grande Southern 20 was cooling her drivers. ©2022 Chip | The Colorado Railroad Museum operated DRGW 491, K-37, on a photo freight for the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club picnic attendees Sunday, May 15, 2022. Great turnout, good friends, and fantastic weather blessed the event. ©2022 Chip |
Ahead of the day's train, there was Parade.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
All photos ©2022 Walter Weart |
![]() |
![]() |
During Saturday, No. 20 pulled a "green" passenger train which included Rio Grande Southern Business Car B-1 ©2022 Walter Weart | Following was Goose 7 which was very popular with the visitors. ©2022 Walter Weart |
![]() |
|
After the end of regular operation, No. 491 powered a short freight train. ©2022 Walter Weart |
Oil train for cleaning
![]() |
![]() |
Colorado Pacific RR (former Missouri
Pacific RR Towner Line) received two CBTX empty unit tank trains starting in
April 2022. Cars are stored and cleaned at new three track yard east
of NA Junction near Boone, Colorado, May 9, 2022 ©2022 Chip |
A BNSF Officer Special
BNSF's President and CEO Katie Farmer inspected BNSF between Gillette, WY, and
La Junta, CO, on May 10 and 11, 2022. The BNSF 3680, ET44C4, handled the 9-car
special. On the rear were dining car Fred Harvey and BNSF 32 theater inspection
car named William Barstow Strong. ©2022 Chip
From Kansas and Colorado
![]() |
![]() |
At Wallace, Kansas on May 9, 2022, a UP tie train was parked on the siding. The locomotive was a Relco PU3200A-6 built in 2019. ©2022Larry Dilts |
On May 9, 2022, the Colorado Pacific GP40-2 leased from WAMX went out for a short outing. Hayden Soloviev, one of the railroad owners, was visiting and was taken for a short ride to the east end of the yard and back. It was good to hear train sounds in Eads once again. . ©2022Larry Dilts |
![]() |
![]() |
Although the Mopac has been gone for a long time and their line into Pueblo abandoned in favor of the AT&SF, a short section remains between Fountain Creek and South La Crosse Ave. The track east of La Crosse has been removed. The bridge across Fountain Creek is partially missing isolating this small three-yard track.. ©2022Larry Dilts | On May 9, 2022, a BNSF empty coal train was waiting in
Colorado Springs for the track to clear to the north. The two BNSF
distributed power units were parked in a good location to photograph from
the new Olympic Museum pedestrian bridge that crosses over the yard. There
is a fine mesh chain link fence which makes it difficult to get some photos
but there are still a few good spots for photographs. |
![]() |
|
At Stewart, Colorado on the CP, Weskan Grain is building a new grain elevator. This will be a much needed new business for the CP. ©2022Larry Dilts |
At Canon City
![]() |
![]() |
On May 7 Royal Gorge 603 SD-40, shut down for the night, awaiting tomorrow's operation ©2022 Walter Weart | On May 8, 603 is ready to lead the first train on the day. Mechanical problems required that the cab car be cut in behind the B unit. ©2022 Walter Weart |
![]() |
|
Because of mechanical problems GP-40 728 is added to the consist to supply additional head in power. ©2022 Walter Weart |
An interesting NS locomotive
A PV visits Denver
![]() |
![]() |
PV Cyrus K. Holliday was on Amtrak's California Zephyr, train #5, at Denver Union Station, CO, April 28, 2022. Car was returning to its home in San Diego, California. Kennebec Financial Corporation is the current owner and does not allow charters. ©2022 Chip | PV Cyrus K. Holliday, ex-Soo Line 52, on 2-hours late Amtrak
train 5, the California Zephyr at Keenesburg, CO, April 28, 2022. Amtrak
800039 on BNSF Brush Subdivision. ©2022 Chip |
A Golden Switcher panorama
A CN visitor
Colorado Pacific RR has leased WAMX 4010, GP40-2 ex-Canadian
National, and moved it from Kansas to Eads, Colorado, as of April 22, 2022. The
locomotive was parked on the former Missouri Pacific Towner Line at Eads, CO,
where it was found April 25, 2022. ©2022 Chip
UP steam club Facebook page.
The donation includes the following equipment from Union Pacific's Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming:
4-6-6-4 Challenger UP 3985
Class TTT 2-10-2 UP 5511
The Centennial UP 6936
E9B passenger locomotive shell
Four 1950s coach cars
Diner-Lounge car
Baggage car
Caboose
Two business cars: the Selma, previously Western Pacific's Feather River, and the Stanford, originally the 1928 Southern  Pacific Sunset
"Union Pacific is proud to be the only Class I railroad with steam locomotives on its roster, part of the finest heritage fleet in the world," said Scott Moore, senior vice president – Corporate Relations and Chief Administrative Officer. "We are pleased with RRHMA's plans to restore the donated equipment for the public to enjoy. Union Pacific remains dedicated to the maintenance and operation of our remaining heritage fleet, including hosting future tours and sharing UP 4014 and UP 844 with the rail community."
Union Pacific will move the equipment to RRHMA's shop in Silvis, Illinois, later this year. RRHMA plans a multi-year, multi-million-dollar restoration of the equipment, including restoring the steam locomotives to operating condition.
"The RRHM is a wonderful home for this historic equipment," said Ed Dickens, steam locomotive engineer and Steam Program manager. "Railfans will look forward to seeing UP 3985 and UP 5511 return to the rails, as well as enjoy the opportunity to experience the various cars being donated."
More information about moving these locomotives from Cheyenne to Silvis, Illinois will come later. As always, we'll keep Steam Club members updated.
(Editor's note" I believe this group also owns Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 265)
Tank car storage
Union Pacific has postponed its planned tour this summer for Big Boy
No. 4014, citing a need to “focus on efforts to ease supply chain congestion.”
The Salt Mine job
A military train passes RTD, note the car with ad as the train passes
![]() |
![]() |
Army National l Guard "Ready to Respond" advertisement was
on Denver light rail car April 6, 2022. Parked on the BNSF/UP |
Denver RTD D Line train passed BNSF train with heavy-metal
at Sheridan, Colorado, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. BNSF train is headed to
Fort Lewis, Washington. ©2022 Chip |
![]() |
|
Denver RTD 234 with’ "I got my Vaccine" D Line train
passed BNSF train with heavy-metal at Sheridan, Colorado, Wednesday, April
6, 2022. BNSF train is headed to Fort Lewis, Washington. I |
Kyle on the move
![]() |
![]() |
Kyle Railroad operated Utah
Railway 5005, MK 503, and Buffalo & Pitttsburg 3333 west through Flagler,
CO, towards Limon, CO, April 4, 2022. © 2022 Chip |
Utah Rly 5005, MK50-3, approached Limon, CO, April 4, 2022. Copyright 2022 Chip |
A visitor from the East
PVs on No. 5 passing through Colorado
![]() |
![]() |
Private varnish graced Amtrak's
California Zephyr, train 5, on March 24, 2022, during stop at Denver Union
Station, CO. ©2022 Chip |
Two Northern Pacific dome cars; one is a dome sleeper (bedrooms under the
dome area) NP 313 and the other a dome coach Northern Pacific 549. Photo
at Fraser, CO, during smoke break stop. ©2022 Chip
|
![]() |
![]() |
Bringing up the rear was ex-New York Central car named
Babbling Brook. Car had bedrooms, lounge and round end observation area. All
three cars went to the West Coast and returned east on Amtrak’s Southwest
Chief, train 4 in late March 2022 . ©2022 Chip |
Erik Lindgren caught the PVs heading west. ©2022 Erik Lindgren |
Amtrack tribute paint
Amtrak 90221 was headed to California on Amtrak's California Zephyr 24 March
2022. Unit wears "Salutes Our Veterans" scheme. View from Park Avenue West
overpass, Denver, CO. ©2022 Chip
Canadian visitors
Durango & Silverton settles fire related lawsuits
DENVER — The Durango & Silverton has agreed to pay $20
million and adopt fire mitigation plans in a proposed settlement to a lawsuit
over its role in a massive 2018 Colorado wildfire.
The money will settle a suit filed in 2019 by the federal government, which
claimed cinders from one of the railroad’s locomotives started the 416 Fire,
which burned more than 54,000 acres [see “Federal government blames Durango &
Silverton for 2018 wildfire,” Trains News Wire, July 2, 2019]. The railroad
continues to deny it started the fire and the settlement is not an admission of
liability.
Meanwhile, the Durango Herald is reporting that the railroad has also reached a
settlement in the civil lawsuits arising from the same fire.
Under the federal settlement announced Monday, the railroad will make an initial
lump-sum payment of $15 million, then pay an additional $5 million plus interest
over 10 years. The government had sought to recover $25 million for costs of
fighting the fire.
On a snowy morning
![]() |
![]() |
While the Beer train holds for permission to proceed, the Golden Switcher is in the hole. Once the Beer train clears, the Switcher will continue to serve the local industries. ©2022 Walter Weart |
A PV in Denver
Pictures from Nebraska and Kansas
![]() |
![]() |
These pictures were at the CHS grain elevator at Roseland, Nebraska March 3, 2022. When loading cars, the CHS facility is quite busy. They use a trackmobile to bring empties to the elevator. There SW1200 is used to shuttle cars through the elevator. They also have two Track Masters. Today, Roseland is the end of the line. The branch once ran from South Minden, Nebraska to a Junction on the Hastings to Superior mainline (Ayr Jct.). The line west of Roseland is abandoned. ©2022 Larry Dilts | |
![]() |
![]() |
The two Track Master photo and what looks like fog is actually grain dust. Larry had a hard time photographing their SW1200 because of all the dust. Fortunately the wind changed for a moment and I was able to catch a good shot of it. ©2022 Larry Dilts |
Kyle Railroad March 3, 2022 at Selden, Kansas. ©2022 Larry Dilts |
A Ski Train charter
![]() |
![]() |
Amtrak Winter Park Express was chartered by
Nike for a mid week Wednesday, March 16, 2022, trip Denver to Winter Park
Ski Resort, Colorado. Amtrak 127 and 130 handled the special move across
Union Pacific's Moffat Tunnel Subdivision. ©2022 Chip |
An interesting visitor
![]() |
![]() |
Ben Helsel caught the CN ES44AC 3971 ex Citi Rail on the rear of the H SLADEN on Pueblo's Hi Line waiting to go north 0n March 15. ©2022 Ben Helsel |
From snowy Wyoming.
Another Saturday morning in Golden
Pictures from Nebraska
©2022 Larry Dlits![]() |
![]() |
Green Plains LLC operates GP 9 1660 at their bio refinery in
Wood River, Nebraska. They also operate a Shuttlewagon. On March 2, 2022, 1660 was parked near State Rd 11 overpass making it easy to photograph. ©2022 Larry Dlits |
March 2, 2022, northeast of Wood River, Nebraska, on the Ken Layher farm is the former Scottsbluff Great Western Sugar dinky. It is reported that it is in operating condition however it is just on static display under a canopy. If it is operational, it would have to be moved to a different location. ©2022 Larry Dlits |
![]() |
![]() |
March 2, 2022 at Kearney, Nebraska, was Gavilon’s GP9s 471 and 651. Railway Service Contractors maintains the units. On the east side of town, Gavilon has a large grain elevator on a short spur which is all that is left of the UP’s abandoned Stapleton Branch © 2022 Larry Dlits. |
![]() |
![]() |
Cathcart Rail operates the old military ammo depot at Grand Island where they store and repair railcars. I saw five locomotives. On March 2, 2022, ARNX 203 was switching one of the car repair shops while WCCX 1 was moving a string of coal gondolas. Both units are uncommon. 203 is a GE 110 ton unit while 1 is an SW14. According to the Surface Transportation Board filings, Cathcart has filed to owned the old military depot rail operations and operate the railroad as the Cornhusker Railroad. I don’t know if that is going to be the name of the railroad operation or whether it is just a paper railroad name. Some the of the Cathcart employees didn’t have any knowledge of the new name. ©2022 Larry Dlits | |
![]() |
![]() |
At the Pioneer Village
in Minden, Nebraska is former Fort Collins Municipal Railway Birney 20.
Being displayed inside the building, it is preserved quite well. ©2022 Larry Dlits |
March 3, 2022, Ag Valley Coop 2002 and 7517 were parked on their siding at Oxford, Nebraska ©2022 Larry Dlits |
On the Front Range Sub
![]() |
![]() |
HPVODEN with BNSF 5939 emerges into the depths of the snow at east portal Tunnel 30 at Lincoln Hills in Rollins Canyon. 2/19/22 ©2022 Erik Lindgren | BNSF 5835 leads empty coal at Keenesburg, CO 2/20/22 ©2022 Erik Lindgren |
![]() |
|
AMTK 207 leads 5 along Eldorado Canyon in the Tunnel District 2/6/22 ©2022 Erik Lindgren |
The Local at work
The UP's Colorado Springs local pulling 2 center beams from Foxworth Galbraith just St north of Filmore
and east of Nevada on February 25. ©2022
Ben Helsel
The Golden Switcher at work
On Thursday, Feb. 18, the Golden Switcher was setting out two lumber loads at
the Reload Center at 44th & McIntyre. The brakeman is controlling the gates from
the signal cabinet as the siding is not in the gate circuit.
©2022 Walter Weart
On the Joint Line
A Canadian visitor
![]() |
![]() |
Canadian National 5641, SD75I, and
CSXT 5102, CW44AH, moved Union Pacific coal empty C MSWE 02/12 - Memphis,
TN, to West Elk Mine, CO, 105 empties. Train was on UP's Limon Subdivision
passed Watkins, CO, Feb 15, 2022. ©2022 Chip |
CN 5641, SD75I, and CSXT 5102,
CW44AH on Memphis, TN, to West Elk Mine, CO, Union Pacific train C MSWE
02/12 with 105 empties, crossed Denver Water Sanitation Canal - water
reflection. UP's Moffat Tunnel Subdivision, Denver, CO, February 15, 2022.
©2022 Chip |
Amtrak and an UP Freight
Just another Saturday Morning
A derailment on the BNSF
![]() |
![]() |
BNSF 7-car derailment (string lined) at the South Platte River bridge. BNSF’s Denver, CO, to Laurel, Montana, train H DENLAU1-11a, 9700 tone was at Denver, CO, February 12, 2022. Incident occurred about 6:00 AM as the 146-car train was tripling up at BNSF’s 31st Street Yard. ©2022 Chip | BNSF derailed center
beam cars looking southwest towards the South Platte River bridge February
12, 2022. BNSF train H DENLAU was going to have about 140 cars leaving the
Mile High City that morning. ©2022-Chip
|
A crew change
![]() |
![]() |
Don Shank of Monte Vista, CO, sold 148, the 4-6-2 Pacific, to US Sugar several years ago. US Sugar performed an extensive locomotive restoration. She now operates through the cane fields over the South Central Florida Express trackage based at Clewiston, Florida, January 30, 2022. © 2022 Chip | US Sugar 148 was used for Kalmbach Media Trains Magazine excursion January 31, 2022. The three car special operated on South Central Florida Express trackage. Fisheating Creek trestle near Palmdale, Florida. © 2022 Chip |
Caboose's caboose is gone.
![]() |
![]() |
Dave Schaaf happened to be driving by the
Caboose store in Lakewood, Colorado, today 27 Jan 2022. The retired Rio
Grande waycar #01416 had just been hauled away to an unknown location. The
sunny photo is from March of 2021.©2022 Dave Schaaf |
6938 on display
Copyright by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club 2021 |
You are the visitor to our virtual page |