Colorado Springs, CO and the Rock Island Railroad Part 2 in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was running as a promoted engineer. I caught a grain extra, due to no rested engineers. I am in the seat, lol, was that good for me!! :) Yeah!! Young n dumb, but I have always liked running an engine.

We have four six axle units, most likely U-33-C’s and/or SD-45’s. A crew change at Rice Yard. It is stormy, and an late December afternoon. Light snow, off and on and we are out of Denver and heading toward the divide. 6800 tons, and two hours and 45 minutes later we crest the summit. It is getting toward 1000 pm, the signal into the Colorado Springs yard limits is clear. It is still 261 territory by rule, and with in yard limits, we can do 30 mph, due to signal indication.

About MP 74.2 a dull glow of a headlight, and a train coming up the Rock Island main, off the upper East end of the Springs Yard. We pass the head-end, nine worn out, road weary warriors. This is a mix of U-25-B’s, U-28-B’s, GP 40’s and some GP-18’s. The rear end was shoved to the clearance point, at the south end of the siding. Due to the snow, the Rock Island ran a bucker plow to clear the branch. There are two cabooses and the plow on the rear end. Traffic has built up, and the Rock Island is moving all tonnage out of the Springs.

Clouds are low, and looks like a mile or so of cars. This will clear the Rio Grande east yard out. The brakeman are walking the set, for the air test. Soon they will be pulling out of town. This train makes the 594 look like a “Red Ball” priority freight.

We have our own business to attend to. So do they, a couple of whistle blasts, a high ball from the lanterns and we go on our own journey. Days past, and not to be repeated.

A few photos. All credit to the original photographers, and for illustration only.

A Rock Island U-25-B Bruce Barrett, he fired for me :)

A U-28-B and a GP-38 working a drag, not on this branch

RI Bay Window Caboose

A Rock Island Detour,at Palmer Lake, CO. The track to the right is the old Palmer Lake siding. Most likely a Rio Grande crew is operating this train to Pueblo. Palmer Lake has grown since this was taken.

Thanks for reading

Last updated May 29, 2015