Gallup Subdivision..05/17/2014 in Tales of the Jointed Track

Yes I am still retired. I am helping move some good friends that we will miss, back to Phoenix. They have the "PODS" picked up, and have the rest of the "necessities", needed till they find a place. They are, now staying with friends there. I am helping relocate their vehicles and get then back to Phoenix. We leave Highlands Ranch, CO at 0600 am and head southward.

Coming into Castle Rock, CO off of I-25, we are now in view of the southbound mainline, and parts of the northbound main. Like a dog to it's vomit, I scan for trains, I know where to look, I see the tattletale signs. Nothing for now.

Tomah siding, along Tomah Road off I-25 south.. a headlight.. off the northbound mainline, now known as Main 2. I see the parts of the train. A freight, a possible AMADEN (Amarillo-Denver) , just looking at the cars in the train. MP 39 to be exact.. I think of the bear, yeah a real bear that Dave Morrow struck with a lite set of helpers. Looks like about 70 cars not a big deal..

The rest of the trip off the Joint-Line is dead into Pueblo. Yup happens..I think there is a lot of "night running" due to track work. Been there-done that, as the saying goes.

I-25 south past the old Steel Mill, heading to Walsenburg, I look around to the east, for something into Southern Jct. It's dead, nothing around MP 129, where Rio Grande Cement. The windmill at Vestas, is spinning, they make the tower stands there. I switched that place, a lot as well. There was a train set awaiting pick up, I don't know if that was for the BNSF or the UP. It maybe not complete, and hasn't been released for transit.

Walsenburg, CO , we'll be able to see the former C&S, as it flits in and out of view from the interstate. Mayne, Lynn, Aguilar, Ludlow sidings are the most predominate. I speak, but my "rider" doesn't understand railroad, or nods in ??? Mayne siding , there is a freight with power on it. Is it staged without a crew, or is it being runaround, by empty coal traffic ? I don't know. Three C-44's and looks like 60 to 80 cars. There is a coal empty going past it, on the main. Looking at the cars, looks like a Hallstead Falls, TX, utility returning back to Orin Subdivision to load back up. Ten minutes later, ( interstate highway time ), there is another headlight showing. It too is another coal empty, showing between Lynn and Mayne. On arrival at Trinidad, CO..on the C&S side, I say well that is the old Trinidad yard office. There is an empty there, waiting to depart, or for crew. There also, is another freight there as well. We get into Downtown Trinidad, CO, and no it isn't a mega city. We are 30 miles or less from the New Mexico state line at the summit.

Just outside the Trinidad,CO city limits.. The summit is 20-25 miles. Railroad miles or Highway miles..there is one way and it is UP!! Raton Pass is via railroad a 3 percent grade, it levels in the tunnel a bit and heads back down into Raton. Starkville, Morley, Gallinas, Wootton curve and Wootton. Nothing is going on. Sad, but why, the BNSF has basically gutted this. Amtrak traverses this great scenic route, but it has fallen by the wayside. Track and signal is great. The crew bases at Trinidad and Albuquerque are gone for other seniority districts. Paul Rea, a conductor came up on this end, and placed on the C&S trainman's roster. We talked a bit about the 2nd and 3rd sub divisions.

Raton, New Mexico the 3rd subdivision...110.6 miles of 55 and 65 mph running. Welded rail, CTC and ABS territory, the New Mexico highlands. The York Canyon mine has played out, and has been gone for at least 8 years past. My heart sank, it did. I did crew and power on this part of the railroad, when it ran hot and heavy. I never saw the headlight that I wanted and hoped would come into view. Wagon Mound, New Mexico.. Three block signals north of town Levy siding and Wagon Mound, semaphore signals. These old warriors, at least 50 to 60 years old, still guarding the mainline and sidings. Parts and maintenance, they have gone by the wayside.. The cantilever signal bridges..all gone, except here. They still stand proud and saluting a high green signal and the blade upward.

http://www.rrsignals.net/Atsf/NewMexico/2nd/7061/7601_3.jpg

This is coming southward into Wagon Mound ... Levy / Colmor area.

Las Vegas, New Mexico...then toward the Glorieta Pass..this too a beautiful run, but between Glorieta and Lamy this is 4 percent grade. Runaway speed is 26 mph, due to friction coefficients, ya stall early, get a set and ride em down.

I asked in a simulation on this route, when I took promotion, for a run away. I had a puzzled look, and said why would you want that. "Well, I know I won't get hurt, not cause damage, and just to see what would happen". That was a trigger, someone who knew the danger and a Supervisor that knew, what I was trying to convey. An eye opener. Ya can't derail, on these old simulators, and I was told as we went through Lamy, NM at 78 mph, you'd have derailed long before that. Yep, I was told that if this would run, I'd still be doing 45 mph into Albuquerque. I still remember that to this day, and my railroad career is finished. No I never ran away, and I was taught air and train handling by the finest engineers, that I emulated.

I-40 Rio Puerco, NM

The mainline is coming into view... I see a Eastbound stack, heading towards Belen,NM . There is movement westbound. A freight, symbol.. a TULBAR (Tulsa,OK-Barstow) Maybe a KCKBAR (Kansas City-Barstow) or a HOUBAR (Houston-Barstow).. I don't know. It is 3X1.. They are doing the 55 mph. The DP is a former Santa Fe C-44 in the old Red and Silver Warbonnet scheme, now BNSF 755. We pass him as the train dodges in and out of the I-40 corridor. Head end standard, 2 C-44's and an SD-60-M..the second unit is a lease unit. The crew, like I was, don't care, as long as they work. Another 20 miles, Grants, NM for gas and a restroom break.

Gallup, NM ... Still going strong, the mainlines are silent. Gallup is a sad commentary, it is a vast Navajo and Hopi community, but still there are many problems. Gallup has grown, since the last time I was through there, thirty some odd years ago. We blast over the overpass, the two mains are expanding into the yard throat. We parrallel the tracks and the yard. The Gallup Roundhouse comes into view, I can't stare, but have to pay attention. When I did power the "SRPX" and the Coronado coal trains were serviced here. The P&M mine, Coronado and Lee Ranch mines were pivotal. They have since played out. The Powder River is supplying these coal plants at SRPX ( Springerville ), and the Anaconda Mill Spur.

Just before coming into Gallup. Around Thoreau, NM at stack train. BNSF 4181 west, is picking them up and laying them down. I figure a good 60-65 mph, I'm doing 80 mph and its a slow overtake. No DP, but looks like a standard stack 5500 to 6800 tons, maybe about 60 actual cars, all wells are occupied. A land bridge train. Was good seeing the "Santa Fe" still strutting its stuff, and at speed.

Like all cross country driving, you get the "billboards" to get your attention. Knife City... Indian owned and operated. Come get that Knife...and they do cutlery as well. Need ammunition and a clip or magazine... EEEE Haww all ya all can get it there. No...I was told by a responsible adult, I couldn't go to Knife City. BUMMER. :(

New Mexico blends into Arizona. We follow the mains in and out, because they drift away from the interstate, due to being laid out prior to favor the railroad. At Holbrook, AZ we come off of I-40 and head toward Heber, AZ. We cross the mains at Holbrook, and a gated crossing at that. So ended my Odyssey along the Santa Fe.

We stayed at Heber for the night, at the cabin of the couples sister. Great place. Drove to Phoneix the next day. Spent the night at the friend place, and headed home via Southwest Airlines Sunday morning. Overall, was a fun peaceful, run. I know they are stressed, due to relocation, and buying a home. Me, it was to help out. I entertain easily....BUT!!! I couldn't go to Knife City.. LOL !! Work with me it's a tough crowd.