A D&RGW-Powered Inspection Special

Every now and then, UP runs these Engineering Specials around the system to inspect it, typically pulled by the latest and cleanest UP power to be found. The last time I ran into one of these was in college, when UP6936 was supposed to pull one up the Fort Dodge line from Granct Junction, IA, north to Eagle Grove and then back through my college home town (Gilbert, IA). That day, we did indeed get skunked and got an SD40-2 instead.

With recent events, UP has kept their passenger movements very much a secret, including modifying the UP Public Trace to not divulge the position of these cars. You simply can’t avoid every railfan everywhere, though, and on 3-Oct-2001 (Wednesday) a fellow DRGW fan here in the Colorado Springs area reported a southbound passenger train with two Rio Grandes on the front. At first, I dismissed it, until I noticed two Rio Grande units, 3097 and 3128, had very strange trace information. With the help of various other people, we were able to pin it down to being a Denver-to-Alamosa Engineering Special, set to return on Thursday, 4-Oct-2001. Once again, a quick call to work managed to get the morning off to pursue this one, and I was off for Pueblo.

In hindsight from the future, this probably wasn’t an engineering special but instead an inspection train, showing off the La Veta Pass line to a prospective buyer as the route was sold off in 2003 to the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad.

First sighting nearly four hours late on the original schedule at 1000h, after I thought I'd missed him entirely. DRGW 3097 lead DRGW 3128 and SSW 7652 down the grade at Minnequa, by the old Colorado Fuel & Iron plant. — First sighting nearly four hours late on the original schedule at 1000h, after I thought I’d missed him entirely. DRGW 3097 lead DRGW 3128 and SSW 7652 down the grade at Minnequa, by the old Colorado Fuel & Iron plant.

Just another view as they got closer. While there were hy-rail trucks at many points along the route, the crew, M-o-W, and security personnel were all very friendly today. It's good to see things somewhat back to normal, with a bit of the tension gone between professionals and fans (at least locally). — Just another view as they got closer. While there were hy-rail trucks at many points along the route, the crew, M-o-W, and security personnel were all very friendly today. It’s good to see things somewhat back to normal, with a bit of the tension gone between professionals and fans (at least locally).

After what looked like a quick crew change, the Special pulls out onto the yard lead and prepares to turn north through Pueblo Junction.

And getting the highball to exit the yard... — And getting the highball to exit the yard…

After clearing Pueblo, the crew wastes little time getting the train up to track speed.

Shooting a northbound on the Joint Line as we're going into winter is challenging business - there aren't that many places that afford decent lighting. This shot, in Fountain, provided an interesting view as I recovered from the dozen or so red ant bites I suffered in getting this shot (my ankle still hurts as I write this, ten hours later). — Shooting a northbound on the Joint Line as we’re going into winter is challenging business – there aren’t that many places that afford decent lighting. This shot, in Fountain, provided an interesting view as I recovered from the dozen or so red ant bites I suffered in getting this shot (my ankle still hurts as I write this, ten hours later).

I was only able to follow it as far as Palmer Lake, as I had real work to do back at the office. Seen here approaching through the S-curve just south of Palmer, the train is still making very good time.

Coming through everyone's favorite curve at Palmer... — Coming through everyone’s favorite curve at Palmer…

Around the lake and on to Denver to pick up UP 6936 (the Centennial) and head west over the Moffat line.

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