Pueblo Yard Extra .. Weed spraying and other work in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was called in late August 2008 for a yard extra in Pueblo… There were two of us engineer’s extra board, holding the board by choice. We were still unloading the XCEL Comanche Power plant, at that time, so there were three or four train sets in the mix.

We were called for about 0700 am on duty..I figured it was a coal train..but wasn’t sure. I checked the boards before I went to bed, first out and sure enough a 0700 extra. I set the alarm for 400 am, got up its still there. I got ready and took off for Pueblo, and around Larkspur Colorado, I got the familiar robo call. “This BNSF attempting to contact ( person ) for an on duty call.” I took the call and proceeded to Pueblo..

I got there about 650 am and checked in at the Yard office. The section was there, okay, we’re gonna do track work. Maybe unload ballast, or rail, or both, pick up scrap ?? dunno. Lawrence Guerrero, the General Track Superintendent, was there. Plus other people we didn’t recognize. I noticed a spray truck, from a BNSF Contracted company.

A Hy-Rail contracted weed spraying truck. The one we worked with had extending booms so three tracks were done at one pass.

an old Santa Fe weed sprayer, being shoved, from behind. You can see how the boom extends and retracts, for public crossings, Block signal masts etc. Ran many of these as well.

We’re spraying weeds, and so we’re pulling tracks. We got our marching orders. Pull the class tracks…let em spray and shove em back in. Okay, no big deal. The power was an SD-60 an ex OWY lease unit… The BN at that time leased 100 of them for coal primary service .

OWY 9000 series locomotives. SD-60’s nearing Palmer Lake with a coal load.

Some of these were turned back in after the leases expired . Some were laid up, with a lot of lease time left, and brought back into revenue service, when business dictated.

We pulled the class tracks, and moved a few on the yard side . The spraying was complete,in Pueblo Yard, at least . We were told go up to Minnequa (pronounced Minn E KWah )and meet the spraying crew up there. The track supervisor would be up there as well to co-ordinate the moves.

We grabbed Yard 10 a bunch of scrap gons and empty rail flats. Then doubled over to yard 5 to bring up today’s interchange up to the C&W Railroad. Hey, we were the yard bitch today, and they were getting the pound o flesh, plus a few more off this one.

We got a hold of the trick DS ( dispatcher ), and got the route. We told him, “line us up the old Minnequa main”, because we had to leave cars, while we pulled yard tracks to spray. We would then shove the delivery in, and then pull the Minnequa’s, for the trip down. We pulled and sprayed for three hours . We grabbed so many tracks and cars, I was almost to Southern JCT. Well that task was done.

“Bring some tracks down, and let me know what you pulled” That was the yardmaster giving those instuctions. I told the switch foreman, “I’ll take what ever you want picked up and bring down”. Well the C&W had a bunch, because the 101 job, hadn’t picked up in 2 days ,really !! We got 110 cars ready for pick up, and started shoving them south up the Minnequa main. We’re in the ” fleet” of empties north and load south… a warm sunny Pueblo day, was enough for a good charge for the air test, with one locomotive.

The train was assembled, and the yard assist van took the field switch man to the rear, and at 85 lbs, we made the set for the air test. The set was walked all good now the release. The air was released, and we waited. The DS was called and told we’re ready, BUT !!, we aren’t leaving unless you can take us to Pueblo JCT. “Okay, one more outta Southern Jct and I’ll take you”.

This heavy grade, with one unit, and when the signal is clear ( green ) we will pull. My decision, not the Foreman’s or the DS. The dwarf signal winked green and the ETD said 87 lbs on the rear end .. The switch foreman rode the Yard van to Pueblo to get us lined up. It took throttle 2 to start, but the BEEP BEEP on the rear end said we were moving. Blowing for the Slag Haul Road crossing, we’re now heading down grade. The train is at 7 mph, and the throttle in Idle. The Dynamics were brought in. I got them slowly into 8 throttle dynamic brake, the fan was screaming and jumped into extended range, but the speed is climbing. I set a minimum reduction off the automatic brake valve at 9 MPH. Okay heavy tonnage on the head end, and empties on the rear, but some of the train, is still in the yard. Yes, a lot of it, but like a sinking ship, gravity is having its way. We’re wavering around 10-12 MPH. I’ll let the cars do the braking, but they are, each and everyone are coming onto the grade. The CTC signal at Salt Creek Jct., Yellow over Red, an approach signal. Pueblo Jct maybe Red or lined through. Well at, or close to Pueblo JCT, the signal is RED.

We stopped short , and way short, like a quarter of a mile short. WHY? Because I have One unit, and it comes uphill into Pueblo Jct. I don’t want to stall. The Union Pacific controls the interlocking here. We don’t have the signal, then no go. A coal train comes through, and then we get a Yellow (approach) . I release the air, and wait for the beep. I feel the slack and tonnage nudging us forward. We needed that, because some of the train is down grade, and some coming upgrade. Remember, we’re one unit.

What throttle position am I in ? Yep wide open throttle 8, and a wild out of control 7 MPH, plus were also getting pushed through the junction, but soon that will equalize. I got to, maybe 9 MPH. Whoops a new dispatcher, and she knew the route. Yellow outta Pueblo Jct, and South Pueblo is RED, and we stop. “Oh I forgot”. Did y ? Hopefully I can get this started . “Oh I have 2 short time coal trains that need you to clear”. Really…Hello ??? I release the air. I really need a good release . “Your lined up into yard 10”, that was the switch foreman. Great, but it took a good throttle 5 to get them moving. Slowly, slowly we’re gaining speed. “I’ll run up to cut you off for the double over, Roger can cut the head end off..I’ll watch the shove in”. We got it into yard 10. Now at the north end of the yard, it starts up at 19th street, and I gotta keep this going. We’re now, in the modern days of railroading, and you can’t get off on the fly, so the field man stays put. The Foreman makes the cut, and protects the shove, into the double over into Yard 9.

All delivered. Well the second shift isn’t happy , but that’s what keeps your job .
We put the unit to the fuel track and tie up …

Last updated March 07, 2015