Runaway Cars, released from Colorado Springs, Vandalism in Tales of the Jointed Track

We were then, ABS, double track, from South Denver to Bragdon. There was no CTC at Palmer Lake. The Rio Grande dispatched southbound, and the Santa Fe dispatched northbound. There were crossovers, at Sedalia, Palmer Lake, Colorado Springs, Kelker, and Fountain. The “Springs” and Kelker were within Yard Limit Rules. At South Denver, there was a CTC signal that took you into , the C&S main 1 and 2 ( Non Block dark territory ) or lined you into the Rio Grande to Burnham Yard. If Southbound, took you to the southbound operating mainline. At Bragdon, you went to CTC on the Santa Fe, or lined into the Rio Grande at TAPP, and they took their route into Pueblo,CO. The Block Signal aspect, told you if you were lined up correct. The Santa Fe controlled at Bragdon. The Rio Grande controlled at South Denver. This gives you a layout of the Land .

Gordon Euell, an engineer, I admired was called on a northbound 77 at 300 am. Dick Mock, and Al Davenport were the rear-end crew, and Gary Moore, the head brakeman. Gary could be an ass. Although Air Force Military, he drew this air of my shit don’t stink. He’d pick on the younger hires, like he was so seasoned. I humbly and honorably thank him for his service, but this isn’t the Air Force. And No!! he wasn’t a pilot, enlisted. Steve Moore was his cousin, and Steve and Gary had “friction”.

Pueblo,CO… 1975:
We’re still double track ABS. This C&S 77 was a cut and fill drag, with slough tonnage. A high train order symbol, but relegated to the last 120 miles as a drag extra north. Bad orders, air test they are on the way. Colorado Springs, at this time had a day or first trick Train Order Operator on duty.

Kids had released a handbrake on an empty box car, set out for loading a City Waste. City Waste did newspaper recycling. Well the car ran its course, through switches, lined up or not, and out on the northbound mainline. Fortunately, someone called the Operator stating a boxcar was rolling free. Luckily it didn’t strike anybody, at a railroad crossing.

The Operator knew 77 was on the way out of Pueblo, and called them over the radio. The runaway was reported and needed their location. “Operator, we’re coming into Fountain on a clear signal. Will stop short of the Fountain X-over. The clear signal was at MP 88.5 on the Rio Grande, the next will be above the cross-over, near mesa Road, where the Right-Of Way changes over to the Santa Fe. Gordon spotted them, about two car lengths from the switch. and the signal went from yellow, to red. Gary is sprinting, to get the switch lined, Gordon has already bailed, in case, he couldn’t line up for the Cross-over.

You’re probably asking, “Why are they lining up, to miss their train, only to send it on the Southbound mainline?” The Fountain Cross-over, was protected by two derails, each end of the track. Switch speed was 10 mph, and rarely used. Mostly for setting out a Bad Order car, that could not make it to Crews ( northbound ) or Fountain ( southbound ).

Gary got the switch lined and ran to the clear. The Boxcar shows and is probably doing 40 mph, at this time. It takes the points, and probably will roll over. NO it didn’t, and due to being empty, center of gravity was on it side. It hit the first derail, and ripped it out of the ties. The second derail, protecting the southbound, did the trick. It hopped up and landed in the dirt, rolling the Box on its side clear of the southbound mainline.

Looking over the wreckage, all accounted for, but they are missing a set of trucks. Trucks are the wheel, side frame axle assembly, that the car sits on. Was this now rolling free, on the southbound? No, it was found on the other side of the mainline, a disassembled mass of frames springs and wheel sets.

The D&RGW, and ATSF sections, Fountain police, showed up. 77 was cleared to proceed north. Operator and DS notified, they proceeded to Denver.