The Denver Union Depot early 70's-Mid 80's in Tales of the Jointed Track

The Depot we ran through, to and from 31st yard, is not what it is today. The depot at that time was called, the Denver Union Terminal Railway Company. It owned no locomotives or rolling stock. They had three shifts, plus relief, in the “Tower”, which was the operator or dispatcher, designated as the “Train Director”, that allowed and signaled movements into and out of the Depot. They had a Manager and a Signal Supervisor and signal crews. As for track maintenance, I don’t know if they had their own section, or if the “member railroads”, provided as needed.

When passenger trains were the norm, the operating road of that train provided, switching of passenger and mail cars. They also provided hostling crews as needed to bring in or take back consists for servicing. The car department, and the mechanical department for each railroad provided their own people as well.

Cover of the issued timetable September 1, 1962. I was 10 years old..lol

They were 99 % dwarf, or what we slang-ed as “Pot Signals”. There were High mast Block signals into the D.U.T. Into an out of the BN main. Into and out of the UP main at or around 23rd Street. Into and out of the Main, C&S, near Speer Blvd, lol 15th…you took the signal, then over Cherry Creek Bridge, and entry to the bridge, was THAT POT SIGNAL !!!…LOL.

The Rio Grande came out of Prospect Jct, south bound, as well as the C&S, so off the Buck Main, the Depot pot signal, close to 23rd Street Viaduct and The FOX HOLE gay bar, was your first signal. Rio Grande northbound, yard limits, thru Burnham, restricted speed and a signal at the Cherry Creek Bridge.

The far left are the Baggage tracks, RPO and extra add-on cars may have been switched there. During my time there were some “Privately Owned” cars stored . Count left to right Tracks 1 thru 11. The Square building near the switch to track 11, is the “Train Directors” Tower for the depot. Ran a lot of Coal and grain, and helper units through here.

Coal empty circa 1978:
We came into Littleton, called the Operator at Rice Yard. “Down to South Denver, call the Yardmaster at the West End for instruction”. Repeated and we call. “Empty, come down past 8th Avenue, call me”. Well, 13th, is our last haven before we block everything. It is an early morning, weekend, “Yardmaster West End, Charlie leaving 8th Avenue”. “Empty, to the Depot to 31st, call Rice Operator”. “Operator Rice Yard, empty line up at Walnut , signal indication”. Instructions repeated. We ease down, and a High yellow, is our signal. We’ll be looking for the signal for entry to the Depot, and we’ll call 31st St Operator to occupy the main, and change crews. A clear signal, our last C&S signal, and now under the short numerous pot signals, and at the required 10 mph. A lunar pot signal, won’t know the track, till we see the switches, how we’re lined. Yep lets wind into five or six track. Switches and track are tight. The death knell, A U-30-C, nose to nose, with an SD-40-2, both with short air hose extensions. This worked well, till here. We are drifting the train in, one throttle 10 mph, snaking through. Then before the Speer Blvd overpass.. KA-Chow!!! we went into the Big-Hole ( Emergency). I called and said hang on, didn’t do it. The slack came in quick, and Charlie Bain says, “What happened, did you hit someone?” Charlie is the West-end Yardmaster. “No , think an air hose separation between the units”, which it was. Yeah, slack drifting and this close to the head end, the cars came in hard. The brakeman goes back, and between the 4th and 5th unit, where the hoses are tight they came apart. I had recovered and sent the air back, so the tell-tale whoosh of air gave it’s location. “Can’t buckle em, the brakeman called out”. “Let me see if I can find, a dummy hose, I am coming back”. Luck, a dummy in the second unit. What is a dummy hose? It is a 1 foot hose with glad hands on each end. It is an extension for situations like this. The dummy is fitted in, air is cut in. The rear end calls, that air is coming up in the caboose. A call to the Depot, a call to the West-End, and a call to 31st St. “Change out front, from 31st, rolling from the caboose”. Happens…part of the job.

Last updated April 28, 2019