The Undercutter Ballast Work Train Part 2 in Tales of the Jointed Track

This was a summer long 5 month ordeal, starting early May and finished up in September. Ties were replaced, during April and May. The tie gang started at MP 49, and worked north to Sedalia,CO MP 712.8.

No, we didn't do 663.8 miles of track. The longest Subdivision on Santa Fe is 293.3 miles on the on the Seligman Sub, but this is 70 mph running. The hottest train east or westbound can traverse in 5 and half hours. This is a mountain grade coal route, it takes 3 hours to climb the 42 miles from the start at Littleton, CO to Palmer Lake, CO.

The reason for the drastic change in mile posts is simple. We are known as the "Joint-Line" It is still in the early eighties, there is no BNSF, till 12 years later. The Denver & Rio Grande Western, is still on its own. The operating crews of the Santa Fe operate BN and Santa Fe freights. The Rio Grande uses their crews for their trains only. We also shared the track. Part belonged to the Rio Grande, and part to the Santa Fe. This at one time were two separate mainlines from South Denver to Bragdon. They flew over each other at Sedalia,CO, Spruce, CO and Fountain, CO. During WW1 the US Government mandated that this would become a double track railroad. We run parallel, but it is not side by side, like most double and triple track mainlines. The tracks are as close as side by side for a quarter of a mile at Fountain, CO and 5 to 8 miles distant in other locations. These were separate routes at one time. There is a crossover at Sedalia, and remnants of stone bridges and abutments at Spruce and Fountain.

Colorado Springs, CO Kelker Yard 1985

Cast of Characters:

RA "Bob" Mayne Conductor .. KH "Kent" Bridgeman Rear Brakeman .. DR "Dave" Tice Head Brakeman .. RM "Brakeshoe or Shoe" Terry Fireman (promoted engineer) .. RA "Roy" Carver Engineer. ( No relation to Ed Carver who retired ) ..

It is a Saturday, but it still will be busy. The railroad is expecting production and results on the track work. They are still fleeting, south to get the night trains out of the limits, then the north program will begin. The northbound's divert at Palmer Lake, and won't be affected by the track window.

On arrival at Denver BN 31st St, we are told, go to Springs, get your power and a Caboose, grab 40 ballast at Kelker, and head for Palmer Lake. They picked up our power, the caboose, and the ballast empties the night before. So this consist is new, and the hack ( slang for caboose). This worked for the railroad in many ways. We are able to go to Kelker, because it is within our work limits, that was bid for the work train. They could grab, everything at Greenland and Spruce, and not worry about getting replacements back into exact positioning. This also buys time, and they have the undercutter working away, and when we get there, they will be ready to dump rock.

We double checked with the dispatcher before leaving, the yard office. Everything is at Kelker Yard. To Kelker we go.

What made this somewhat different, well going to Kelker on a Saturday, but it probably co ordinated with the railroad traffic flow, and Dave Tice was on the job. Dave bid this job and in the last 3 weeks, he's worked twice. We were fortunate, because John Nelson was his fill in off the brakeman's extraboard, and he is a good hand. It pissed Bob Mayne off, because he wanted a crew that would work and be cut in on what was going on. Since we had John so much, he was basically a regular crew member.

We arrive around 0745-0800 am at Kelker yard. The head end loads up the grips and water on the units. The crew van takes the rear brakeman back to the caboose, he unloads, the Conductors and his grip and some more cases of drinking water. Bob stays with the power. I tell Roy I'll walk around these, check fuel and water, make sure headlight MU's are set properly and placed online. I sign the 203 cards and walk around the bottoms. The Caboose and 25 cars are shoved close to the derail on 4 track the power and the remaining 15 are in 3 track.

I get close to the lead unit and I hear a pack set crackle. "Roy we have 10 handbrakes tied back here, air 'em up, and gimme a set, when you have enough and I'll take the off handbrakes on 3 track. Roy says "They are cut in and already set, so take 'em off lemme know when you're clear". I tell Bob, when ever you and Roy are ready, power's ready to go. Bob says okay and up shows Dave Tice. Dave cockily steps up to Bob and said "What do you want me to do Bob"?, and the makes a mock salute. Well that wasn't a smart thing to do, and especially when ya haven't shown up for the job. Bob gets that scowl on his face, his eyes are narrow slits, and tosses me my Skoal can, after putting in chew. His face is getting a lil red and the veins are sticking out on his temples and neck. He's getting pissed. I can see something is about to happen. "Ya know Tice!!, yer a real piece of shit"!! Dave knew he crossed the line. "Yes sir Bob I am, I'm a piece of shit". "When we get these brakes removed, double this over to 4 and cut in the air, walk up and double check handbrakes and get on the motors". "yes sir Bob".

"Roy tone up the dispatcher, and tell him we need to occupy the siding to double over". Bob is still seething a bit but calming down. "I'm walking up to get the switch when we get authority". The DS answers and gives us authority to occupy the siding. "How much longer before you're ready to leave Kelker? I have one leaving, Crews and one right behind him". "DS, we need to double over the train, make and air test 30 minutes". "Okay, then where please?" "Up to Monument in the siding, we need to run around the train and reposition the Caboose, and power to the south end of the train for unloading". "Okay, signal indication, DS-16 out".

Bob lines the switch, and Kent reports clear of 3 track, and we start the double over. The train is doubled over, and the Caboose reads 87 lbs on the trainline. "Set em up Roy, 87 lbs, I'll take off the remaining handbrakes, and walk the set, we'll roll the release out". Dave climbs to the head end, and says I'll be in the second unit till we get to Monument". Roy releases the air, and the second train is just about past us. Bob gets on one side and Kent the other and rolls the release out, "High Ball we're on". We have a yellow signal, and will pace and follow these two trains up to Monument siding.

Monument, CO

Red over Yellow, we're lined into the siding, we pull up into the siding. Monument siding has small 800 ft spur with a switch on either end. We show a Yellow indication, on the north end of Monument siding, and the rear end drops off the caboose. "Stop Roy and shove in 4 cars" . The Caboose is cut off, and we shove down the siding. Kent tied 3 handbrakes on the rear, before the shove, and we shove clear of the spur. Kent starts tying another 6 brakes, while we're grabbing the Caboose. "Kent, were ready to tie in". "I'm clear". We reattach the caboose, and cut the power away. We take the signal at the north end of Monument siding.

The DS, is toned up, and we are lined down past the south end of Monument. We get permission to flag into the siding against our train. "DS-16 to ATSF 3629 North, work train". "3629" "What is the plan after this?" "We need to be lined onto the southbound mainline. We'll call the Rio Grande on channel 54 for permission onto the southbound". "Okay, do you have track warrants and bulletins from them?" "Yes leaving Denver, a Box 1 proceed from Palmer Lake to MP 47 and a Box 4 work between MP 47 and MP 35 , a Box 12 between MP 47 and MP 35 for men and equipment, and a Box 18 Joint with Foreman Rutherford and Foreman Martinez between MP 47 and MP 35". We also have the associated bulletins, and will verify with them". "Okay signal indication".

Palmer Lake, CO

We stop at Palmer Lake, and tone up the Rio Grande dispatcher on channel 54. "Rio Grande DS 86". "ATSF 3629 North, work train at Palmer Lake. We need authority to flag into the southbound main, with our track warrant". "Is this the work train that contacted me this morning in Denver for the Under cutter"? "Yes" "ATSF 3629 you have authority to occupy limits at Palmer Lake under the conditions of the track warrant 4308 and 4310 issued this morning. All track bulletins issued are still current. Over". The instruction were repeated. We change over to channel 36 and tone up DS-16. We relayed our instructions from the Rio Grande, and recieved authority to flag the RED signal at Palmer Lake into the Southbound Main.

As we approach the Form B for the track gang, we get permission from both foreman, Rutherford and Marinez to occupy the limits and proceed to MP 45. At Greenland, we switch the caboose next to the power, because it was a shoving platform, so the trainmen wouldn't have to hang on the side of the cars for 20 miles. We unloaded rock, when given authority to proceed, tie up again at Spruce. How did we get to Spuce from MP 47 to MP 49?
Simple, we are the only train out there, plus we hold the order from Palmer Lake to MP 47. We tone up the Rio Grande, and get verbal authority to run south to the siding. We clear our 2 track warrants, reporting clear of the mainline and switches lined and locked for the mainline. Monday morning, same thing, but maybe not like today. Oh Dave Tice, he bid off the job, and John Nelson had a bid in, he stayed with us, till they abolished the work train.