I attended a conference for work in Denver last week and then on Friday my family flew up to join me and then for some fun. We drove to the mountains on Saturday for some winter fun including some snowmobiling. Well, after our sleigh ride and driving back from Sombrero Stables at Snow Mountain, CO I noticed a BNSF / Union Pacific coal consist traveling south alongside Hwy 40 between the towns of Tabernash and Fraser, CO. I instructed Benjamin to take my Canon Digital Rebel camera from the Jansport backpack and start shooting as many pictures as possible as I slowed down to around 35 mph on the road back. I have added 19 images to the Blog header image rotation from this series and another 22 images will be added into the general image folder for my PD site.
The towns of Tabernash and Fraser (el. 8,400 ft) sits in the valley between Ninemile Mountain (el. 9,695 ft), Sheep Mountain (el. 10,627 ft), and Ptarmigan Peak (el. 11,772 ft). This southbound unit coal train had two prime movers at the head, two in the middle of the consist, and a fifth unit at the end. At this elevation the grade averages 2-3%, and with a mile long coal cargo, this unit was moving at around 20 mph and kicking up a lot of snow along the way. It was an amazing sight to behold!
Welcome to our end of the world …and thanx for having son take pictures while you kept your hands on the wheel. The ditches along US40 in that area claim their fair share of errant motorists every year with glare ice. Walked every foot of that track from Tabernash to Winter Park at least twice last year. (Tabernash to Fraser will be a swamp come May during Mud Season)
…Enjoyed your photos in that harsh climate and elevation Ryan…
With a grade like that I’d say those 5 engines had their work cut out for them. Heavy coal train of that length and that grade in cold weather, they were earning their keep.
PS: Rt. US 40 passes within 30 some miles of our little home town in western Pennsylvania.
Mud,
The sleigh driver at the Snow Mountain Sombrero Stables told us about “Mud Season” and she said it was going to be a long one this year due to the heavy snow fall this year. Looking forward to going back there again. I love Colorado and the Rocky Mtns.
Quentin,
It was about 22 F at the time the photos were taken around 4:30 PM MST and the sound those prime movers made was incredible, you could sense the power coursing through those two in the front.
Ash,
Thanks!
some more info- these trains consist of usually 104 cars hauling about 14,700 to 15,100 tons. the UP coal trains are remoted in p-burg,CO and also GJ. Glenwood springs is also used many times every day to cut the swings in. You cannot climb frasier to winter park without all six units working. for 80 car coal trains you will see them 2X2, otherwise its 2X3X1.
Ryan - Nice pix. Thanks for sharing!
apUpcond - Thanks for the added info on these trains. I live on Tennyson St., and I see a bunch of these coal drags every day.
