The Santa Fe Park branch circa 1975 in Tales of the Jointed Track

Time has marched on.. Some of this crew have passed, the branchline is now a walking path in some places. There are homes and buildings , business parks now in there area.

The “industry” we switched was a former BF Goodrich tire plant. Then Michelin Tyre Company bought it. It is now an AT&T facility. I looked at the old Joint Line No.6 Timetable. In effect Sunday May 16th 1971. I couldn’t find any reference, but I think, since it was within the Yard Limit rule, that what covered it. Yes Santa Fe Park still exists to this day. The branch up to the Michelin plant does not.

The Sedalia turn:
I got called on this. We went up to Sedalia and ran around some plastic cars that came into Denver, only to take them back. Had some Western Aspen, set out at Santa Fe Park along with three empty box cars and a load of Carbon Black for Michelin.

The grade is steep. I am thinking 2.5% in places then levels off. Also it is weed overgrown. So that also comes into the equation. A worn out GP-20, 1 load and 3 epmtys, weeds. Hi-Ball lets see what happens. We switch out and shove clear the cars we don’t need. Line back the main-line to let incoming freights to pass, while we are in the spur.

We have our Michelin cars, and were assaulting the weed covered grade. Yeah, no one has been up here for a while. Sand, lol if it is working or not clogged, will not overcome the grade and weeds. Weeds, grass, vegetation, will act like a lubricant, when crushed. We stall about a quarter mile up. We double into Michelin, and spot as needed. We grab the other two and switch out, and spot. The carbon Black is spotted, and the three loaded pulls are set over. The other three empty boxes are at the doors. Three loaded box cars, and we’re ready to head back to the main-line.

I ask the crew to set the retainers to Low Pressure, to allow me to short cycle down. The track is still slippery, and the dynamic brake,LOL, if it works will not help. We get down, with popping and pinging , of mashing weeds, during the descent.

The retainers are taken off, after we grab the rest of the train. An air test and back to finish off the rest of the work orders. All gone, but memories.