North Bound Train Stall Postash Train Monument, CO in Tales of the Jointed Track

I am back running an engine, after being cut-off at the NOC. I took the DENPUE
( Denver / Pueblo), shortly after the South Loop Inter-divisional was instituted. The hours were horrid. On duty 0300 am out of Denver and Pueblo. Monday through Saturday. Sundays off. I least had a day and a half off.

It is an early January day. We got out of Denver in 45 minutes. That doesn’t happen often, but the power was on, train air tested, and ready to go. We made the Big Lift set out, and on up the hill. This was a set of good runners, three units and sixty cars leaving Big Lift.

We caught the coal load ahead of us. We can see the DP’s headlight, cresting Palmer Lake, as we came into Spruce. The signal at MP 50.5 (commonly referred to as the “sag”), winked to YELLOW. A tone to the DS, and were told, “Meet one, that is waiting at Monument, then to the Springs”. That was repeated, and we’ll go in about 45 minutes, or will we.?

The coal load meets the potash train at Monument. This ugly scenario is repeating itself. Just like the grain train. The potash train is 10,000 tons and I bet they were deep in the red just to get in the clear. The signal winks green and the potash train is trying to start. The engineer, tried, but a wheel slip a lunge and the train goes into emergency. The train separates about 4 back from the head end. Luckily it is a knuckle. It’s replaced, and they can’t start the train.

The familiar tone to the DS sounds over the radio. “DS-16 answering Colorado Springs call”. “DS BNSF 4284, potash train ( train symbol given…I can’t remember), we can’t start the train, due to tonnage”. LOL it is real quiet. “Are all the units working?’‘. LOL yeah its always the power. Now yes locomotives do fail, but really, how do you think he got them this far? ” All on line and operating”. “Lemme talk to the Chief”. The Division Trainmaster is in the area. Allen Wolfe is a great Trainmaster, and they run him ragged. That’s the reason the “Mentor” Troubleshooters job was instituted.

“Trainmaster to the DENPUE”. “DENPUE”. “How many units do you have”? “Three units Allen”. “If I authorize you to shove this train over, what is it gonna cost me in penalties”? “8 miles lap back and 120 miles basic day, over and above the trip”. “I’ll call the Chief, and have you go and tie down on the main. Shove him over, and come back to the train. I’ll pay the timeslips”. “Understood DENPUE out”.

The signal at MP 50.5 goes green, and the DS calls. “DENPUE, you know you’re to come down to Monument and shove the potash train over”. “Yes, DS talked to the Trainmaster”. “Ill flag you into the siding, tone me up when ready” “Roger, BNSF 4172 out”.

We run down the main, and tie down. Tone up the DS and flag into the siding. The head end is contacted, and we buckle in and cut in the air. The Automatic Brake valve on our units are cut-out, Independent remains active. After the set and release is made, we’re ready to boost this pig over the grade. “BNSF 4284 releasing…rolling”. It takes a good 4 throttle from behind just to get this moving. All units are wide open and 21 mph is all we could squeeze out of ‘em.
As we get a mile from the Lake, the engineer is told. We slowly decrease the throttle and count to the signal. The air sets and we stop, about 25 cars to the CTC signal at Palmer Lake. He has enough tonnage over, to get started and start the descent to Denver. We cut off, wait till the rear end of the potash train begins to move. DS-16 is toned up for permission to make a reverse movement and back to our train.

We get back, knock off the hand brakes after the train is charged up. Springs beckons, and the set out and pick up made. We’re close to going dead on the hours of service, but another day, another problem.

Railroading, it is what it is, despite itself. What weighs more a pound of Feathers or a pound of Lead. It took a few more of these 3 unit 10000 to 12000 ton debacles, to fail, before it finally sunk in.

Last updated November 30, 2015