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Absolutely fascinating to me is the "old" Main Line D&RGW Railroad in Colorado from Pueblo to Glenwood Springs on the Tennessee Pass. First, the line passes through the spectacular Royal Gorge, a deep, narrow gorge, in which only the tracks and the Arkansas River have space, then the track rises up to 3% of the pass (Summit) to 10,400 ft.above sea level! Along the pass is the Continental Divide (the watershed between Atlantic and Pacific).
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Rio Grande and Southern Pacific after 1988 (Merger D&RGW and SP) resulted in huge freight trains over the pass, the transportation of coal from mines in Colorado and Utah southeast direction was a major part of the rail. Coal Trains with over 14,000 tons total, and up to 12 diesel locomotives were daily business. These were in addition to the locomotives at the front, locomotives in the midtrain clamped and the end pushed the so-called "Rear End Helper". The overall power of the locomotives at times exceeded 40,000 HP.
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A Long Coal Train Southern Pacific just before the Summit.
Through the super-merger in the 90ths (first Southern Pacific and D&RGW) then in September 1996, takeover of Southern Pacific by Union Pacific, was the route for UP unprofitable. It was closed down after the last Winter 96/97.
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Here are two pictures of the huge, 1,000 feet deep Royal Gorge. On the left picture is the road bridge over the ravine to realize was taken from where the right image from above. |
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My goal is in G-Scale such a train with more than 30 hoppers (loaded) and reproduce up to 8 Dash-9 locomotives and running on my Moose Creek Line, with its 2.5% incline.
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The pass is an underground with a short tunnel. The metal construction is an automatic sliding door in order to seal off the tunnels, especially in the winter.
This recording is recent. The railway line is after more than 13 years intact since the closure by the UP more or less. It is of UP as a strategic reserve maintained. If as a result of accident or, for example. a natural disaster, the main railway line from west to Denver, the Moffat route, once blocked, it's time for the Tennessee Pass line. You must pack up the camera, and services would immediately book a flight to Denver! |
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About one feed back on this web site, I'm always happy! Every mail will be answered: themountaineer@bluewin.ch
Respect. . ! This site is under construction. It may take until the summer of 2010, until all sides are decorated ready. Please have a look again.
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| May 2010 / themountaineer |
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