Q-Trains Big Lift, CO in Tales of the Jointed Track

The Santa Fe is going big time here, to capture the Denver Intermodal market share. These will operate on time, and with dedicated assigned crews. The bids were out for Train and Engine crews. This also would be an inter-divisional run. Denver (Big Lift) through Pueblo and crew change at La Junta, CO 186 operational miles. It will also be a double ended pool. Denver crews and La Junta/Pueblo crews. Out of La Junta the Engineers came out of this pool. As for the trainman, the Pueblo subdivision were Pueblo based trainman. They were required to report at La Junta. These Pueblo/ La Junta crews tied up at Big Lift, and were lodged in Littleton,CO 10 miles north. The railroad provided transportation to and from Big Lift to the lodging facility. Same for the Denver crews at La Junta. There would be a mileage adjustment made every 30 day. So it meant you would lay over in La Junta longer than normal. Due to the agreement, no Held Away From Home Terminal would be paid. So it was DEAD TIME. Is what it is... this is a good gig. We got paid quite well, and we got over the road as well. Six hours running time was a good trip. Eight to ten... Oh My God..we were abused. Can I get some love or the poor bastard you comments...LOL. I was thankful I held this from November 20th thru January 10th of each year.

The equalization worked this way. You'd get called at 900 pm and arrive La Junta about 200 to 330 am. Okay you were due out at 530 pm that afternoon, no you weren't. The equalizing turn from La Junta would cut in, and you'd go out at 530 am the next day. Could happen that you arrived at 300 pm, due out at 530 am, no yer stuck till 530 pm. So it was 24 hours of real down time. I made due..La Junta Population 3000. Hey If you were lucky...walk a quarter of a mile and go to the sale barn day. Or if ya had a "Dolly".... well my dolly was at home :)

The Santa Fe downfall..

The Q trains were discontinued about late 1982-83. Why they failed ?, factors and traffic flow. The Santa Fe delivered, and had inbound traffic into Denver. They couldn't get a turn around load program back south or east. The majority of the Denver East/South traffic was empty containers and/or trailers. Don't make money hauling empties back. I had one of the last Q's south and back. A sad state, but economics are that, and they went to abandoning the intermodal traffic.

I was fortunate to hold these for a couple of months. A few vignettes will follow then will close out a chapter at Big Lift...or will it?