Fountain Crossover 1978 in Tales of the Jointed Track

Well, I am running as a regular engineer, with an established turn. I am about four or four and a half years of experience. I am comfortable, but cautious, because I still have a lot to learn.

Train Santa Fe 414:
The 414 was a “glorious” symbol-ed train, on the Joint-Line. It basically was an Extra, with a name. It brought C&S, BN, and UP interchange traffic gathered at Denver, only to be humped and switched at Pueblo. The usual power for the 414, were a mix of GP-20, GP-30, GP-35, GP-38’s on the EMD side. The GE side, was U-25-B and U-23-B’s. If lucky a six axle set of EMD SD-39’s or U-23-C’s came up, but these were at this time Raton, NM Coal power. An SD-24 would occasionally show up, these as well were Raton drag power, but were to be rebuilt to SD-26’s at Cleburene, TX .

I got called on a late 414, for 100 pm. It was the usual three or four units. These were all four axle power and good for 4000 tons at most. Remember, we are on grade to Palmer Lake, without manned helpers, at this time.

Side Note: Helpers did not come into being until 1980.

The typical, call the yardmaster, get the track(s), air test, get the orders and leave. The trip was uneventful up the hill. From South Denver, to the summit at Palmer Lake was about 2 hours and 45 minutes. High Green in the sag at MP 50.5,we’re lined over, and on the single track CTC operation.

Crews end of CTC , Southbound:
The Signal at Crews is Clear, GREEN, aspect clear. We have the running order to proceed Crews to Bragdon.

I think by reading, in my goofy style, something is going to happen. Yes, it is going to.
Let me preface, our train.
The train was oddly built out of Denver. Compliance, either Santa Fe or BN was not in effect at this time. Our Achilles Heel, a three car set of TOFC ( Trailer On Flat Car ), about forty cars back. This train, as I can remember had 30 loads behind the power, then a mish mash of loads and empties, to the TOFC, followed by, about 20 empties and 20 cars of RED Ore for CF&I.

Mesa Road:
High Green into Fountain, getting ready for the 30 mph, on the railroad crossings at grade. We will lift up, as the grade changes, I will lessen off the dynamic brake, and allow the train to shove us through, and re-apply as we come into Fountain. Blowing for Comanche Road, the unfamiliar, PTSHHHH, and the brake pipe goes to zero. F!!! we are in emergency!!! The PCS, has nullified all throttle and Dynamic brake, I grab the Independent brake valve to keep the current slack bunched. We stop three cars from Comanche Road. “I didn’t plug it, sending the air back”. The PCS is reset, and I am sending the air back. There is a hole, meaning the brake pipe isn’t recovering. I hope for just a separated air hose, but we are broken in two.

Well, the empties, ahead of the TOFC’s, a car drug, an air hose. That hit the crossing planks. and upon hitting it, separated the brake pipe. That, as your air brake lesson, a 10 lbs reduction, in less than 1.5 seconds triggers an emergency application. The train make up, versus drifting slack vs trailing tonnage, vs physics. KAPOW!!! Right around where the former flyover, for the Santa Fe was. There was one of the TOFC cars, with the drawbar out. Yep, Drawbar, coupling head and draft gear all came out. Since the drawbar was on the south-end, we had to chain up the car, and set it out to the Fountain Cross-over. The TOFC was eased to the Fountain Crossover. The section showed up, to see if any track damage ensued. The train was walked to see that all remaining cars were on the rail.

After a couple of hours, we were on the roll. The TOFC car that sustained damage, was an empty car. It had two flat bed trailers, that hauled cement pipe to Denver. It was on its way back for reloading or disposition elsewhere.

Sometimes a trip is a trip, uneventful and going yard to yard. Sometimes this happens. A seasoned engineer told me , “Kid during your career, you will get knuckles and drawbars. Some will be your fault and some won’t be. You’ll still be the goat”.

Last updated November 24, 2018