April 3, 1999

This afternoon George, Tim & John Szabo, Joel Akers, and myself (Scott Phillips) drove down to Palmer Lake, CO to watch a little traffic on the UP/BNSF Joint Line. Palmer Lake is very near the peak of the grade from Denver to Pueblo. About 50 miles of 1-1.55% percent grade south of Denver at about 7,300 feet in elevation.

We ended up catching 5 trains in about four hours, four of which were unit coal trains and one was a mixed freight. Unfortunately since we didn't leave my shop until after 3:30PM we didn't have enough sunlight to catch all on film.

NOTE: For a larger version of each of these pictures please click on the picture itself. The pictures on this page have been reduced to 640x480 or smaller. The larger versions are approximately 1024x768 and 105-190K in size.

4:20PM at Tomah a loaded coal train is led South by a trio of SD70MAC's #8815, #8801 & #9510. They also have a pair of BN helpers on the rear (C30-7 and an SD40-2). For a closer picture of the lead unit click here.

4:23PM at Tomah. The helpers (C30-7 #5137 and SD40-2 #7006)are pushing the train past us. For a closer picture of the helpers click here.

4:35PM near Larkspur crossing a Santa Fe Bridge.

5:14PM at Palmer Lake. SD70MAC's are slowing down ready to stop and cutoff the helpers.

5:22PM at Palmer Lake just north of the single track on the southbound side. The helpers (SD40-2 #7006 and C30-7) are being cutoff.

5:23PM at Palmer Lake just north of the single track on the southbound side. The helpers have just been cutoff and the FRED is being hooked up to the air line.