State of Tennessee Pass – July 2005

Paul Birkholz posted the following irresistable tidbit to the DRGW list on Thursday, Jul 21, 2005: “I received information that a hi-railer arrived in Buena Vista via rail on Monday morning from the east. They stopped briefly in town for gas (off the rail) and then got back on the rail and continued west. Other than the Buena Vista sighting I haven’t heard how far the vehicle may have gone.” Since I’ve heard from several people that UP doesn’t make a regular habit of hyrailing the Pass, with it having been out of service for some eight years, the possibility that something was about to happen was too good to pass up. I’d taken Friday off work for a Helper, UT, trip originally, but I decided it was too darn hot. So, instead, I decided to head up into the high country in order to substantiate the report and get a better idea where the run started and ended.

I started the morning in Pueblo, CO. The TP main is still very active between Pueblo and Parkdale, with three different railroads operating it. The best known is probably the Canon City & Royal Gorge, which runs a first class tourist train from Canon City west through the Gorge to Parkdale. Rock & Rail, a shortline operator, used to run rock trains from the Parkdale quarry over to Pueblo and then up to Colorado Springs. However, lately all I’ve seen them do is switch the Holcim cement plant at Portland, and the rock train has been running with UP power – specifically, the ex-DRGW GP60s – so they may not do the rock haul any longer. Also, UP also runs locals from Pueblo to Canon City to serve the generating station on the west side of town. Between Pueblo and Parkdale, I managed to meet trains from all three operators. I have to admit, with the possibility of there having been a hyrail truck out, I was secretly hoping UP might be preparing to run another work train to Malta or some such, but there was no sign of that.

West of Parkdale is where I focused for the day. This section, aside from a few special trains, has been completely shut down since I moved to Colorado in the summer of 2000. The basic process was to keep surveying crossings as I moved west, looking for signs of dirt being moved by flanged wheels, or tire tracks on the railhead. The good news is that something flanged did go through Buena Vista. All of the crossings between Buena Vista and Malta have had their flangeways recently disturbed. There’s no sign of anything recent to the east of BV, nor any sign of anything beyond Malta on the west. Also, as of the broken wire from the Kobe high/wide detector was hanging down and in the way of any vehicle wanting to pass underneath. Today, it was neatly tied back to one of the poles. Also, I met a hyrail (on the highway) just out of Cotopaxi, headed east. There’s a good chance it was just coming over from western Colorado, but you can always hope…

Although this trip report has a lot less trains than normal, I hope those of you who don’t get a chance to see the line regularly enjoy this look at what the TP mainline looks like today. Hopefully, in the future, we’ll be able to photograph the same spots, except with trains. For the moment, though, there’s very little hope of traffic returning in the near future. There’s just no reason for it. Probably only a great expansion in western Colorado coal production would spur UP to do anything at all about it. At least they’ve come to their senses and taken it off the abandonment list, so for the moment it’s safe.

Pueblo to Buena Vista

Where it all begins... This is the west end of the Pueblo Yard, where the TP main begins. We see SSW 7291 and UP 2916 switching empties from a Canon City local — Where it all begins… This is the west end of the Pueblo Yard, where the TP main begins. We see SSW 7291 and UP 2916 switching empties from a Canon City local

The next traffic encountered was Rock & Rail's GP39-2, LTEX 2372 (ex-UP 2372, exx-MKT 373) at Portland, switching the Holcim plant — The next traffic encountered was Rock & Rail’s GP39-2, LTEX 2372 (ex-UP 2372, exx-MKT 373) at Portland, switching the Holcim plant

Finally, we find the third user of the Pueblo-Parkdale segment, the Canon City & Royal Gorge, heading back at Parkdale. Note the SD9 on the back - that's ex-DRGW 5305 — Finally, we find the third user of the Pueblo-Parkdale segment, the Canon City & Royal Gorge, heading back at Parkdale. Note the SD9 on the back – that’s ex-DRGW 5305

As the train passes under US 50, it disappears into the Royal Gorge

The first easily accessible grade crossing west of Parkdale is Cotopaxi. Looking east, back towards Parkdale, with no sign of recent traffic in the flangeways.

And looking west at Cotopaxi, towards Vallie and Salida.

The forces of time and weather are slowly returning the name of the rightful owner at Vallie

East down Vallie siding, towards Cotopaxi

Vallie also shows no signs of flanged vehicles

This truss bridge, just east of Red Hill Tunnel, still has a small Rio Grande in the center of the top beam

Red Hill Tunnel, east of Salida, looks to be clear, even if the tracks are overgrown. Back in 2001, they had a few rocks in the way here.

Looking east through the once-mighty Salida yards from a parking lot near downtown

And west from the same point as 13. The tracks still showed no sign of a vehicle.

This is the west end of the Salida yard, from the County 175 road crossing - still no sign of anything on the rails — This is the west end of the Salida yard, from the County 175 road crossing – still no sign of anything on the rails

Looking back east to Salida from a grade crossing at MP 219, about three miles before Brown Canyon

And looking northwest, towards the Collegiate Range

Still packed in the flanges, nothing's been through here lately — Still packed in the flanges, nothing’s been through here lately

Buena Vista to Tennessee Pass

Finally, success! See all that fresh dirt displaced? Paul's report was right - a hyrail or similar went through here recently. This is the southernmost (east) crossing in Buena Vista, CO. — Finally, success! See all that fresh dirt displaced? Paul’s report was right – a hyrail or similar went through here recently. This is the southernmost (east) crossing in Buena Vista, CO.

Looking back south from the crossing (railway east) towards Salida

Looking towards downtown BV at that same crossing - notice flange marks on the far side of the crossing as well. — Looking towards downtown BV at that same crossing – notice flange marks on the far side of the crossing as well.

From the other end of Buena Vista, looking back towards the first crossing. This one, too, shows dirt having been moved by a truck

The way we're going - north (railway west) to Leadville and Tennessee Pass — The way we’re going – north (railway west) to Leadville and Tennessee Pass

At this crossing near Americus, there's not enough dirt to provide evidence. The rails do seem to show a bit of wear, though, so we're still on the right track — At this crossing near Americus, there’s not enough dirt to provide evidence. The rails do seem to show a bit of wear, though, so we’re still on the right track

Granite gives us the most compelling evidence - not only a cleaned-out flangeway, but fresh tire tracks in the dirt. That proves it was a hyrail-type vehicle — Granite gives us the most compelling evidence – not only a cleaned-out flangeway, but fresh tire tracks in the dirt. That proves it was a hyrail-type vehicle

Looking south (rail east) towards Americus and Buena Vista at Granite

Looking north at Granite. Notice the people in the background - they'd apparently been skinny-dipping in the Arkansas River, and two of the bunch became agitated when they thought I was pointing the camera at them. I didn't even notice them until they started putting their clothes back on! Guess I really am a hardcore railfan. — Looking north at Granite. Notice the people in the background – they’d apparently been skinny-dipping in the Arkansas River, and two of the bunch became agitated when they thought I was pointing the camera at them. I didn’t even notice them until they started putting their clothes back on! Guess I really am a hardcore railfan.

A truss bridge over the Arkansas just north of Princeton

At Balltown (at least that's what my map calls it), the railroad recrosses the Arkansas. This is looking back towards Granite, across from the US 24 / CO-82 intersection. — At Balltown (at least that’s what my map calls it), the railroad recrosses the Arkansas. This is looking back towards Granite, across from the US 24 / CO-82 intersection.

A better look at the brige, complete with Rio Grande logo

Looking south from near the US 24 bridge back towards Kobe. Kobe has a high/wide detector, and a wire that was dangling over the track two weeks ago is now neatly tied to a pole - more evidence! — Looking south from near the US 24 bridge back towards Kobe. Kobe has a high/wide detector, and a wire that was dangling over the track two weeks ago is now neatly tied to a pole – more evidence!

The crossing I shot Photo 31 from - again, flangeway marks and gravel/dirt displaced by a tire — The crossing I shot Photo 31 from – again, flangeway marks and gravel/dirt displaced by a tire

Looking south/east from the Malta Yard, just below Leadville.

The Malta Yard, about as close the ex-DRGW main gets to Leadville, having served the town with a branch that exits the yard on a wye to the right.

Malta, too, shows signs of a vehicle passing through, or possibly setting off, as no traces were found of a hyrail north/west of this point.

The only surviving Rio Grande building in Leadville is the freighthouse, now relocated to the south side of town by US 24

Back to following the TP line, we reach its namesake - the East Portal of Tennessee Pass. Note the signal heads have been stolen - most of the surrounding structures have also been vandalized. — Back to following the TP line, we reach its namesake – the East Portal of Tennessee Pass. Note the signal heads have been stolen – most of the surrounding structures have also been vandalized.

Looking down at the west end of the Tennessee Pass siding

Looking back at the point-end control signal, formerly double-headed. I guess they couldn't get the lower head off... — Looking back at the point-end control signal, formerly double-headed. I guess they couldn’t get the lower head off…

The grade for the turning wye from the old TP line is still visible, snaking up one of the adjoining valleys.

Looking downhill from the western side of the tunnel, towards Mitchell

Looking uphill towards the tunnel at Pando - no sign of any vehicles through here — Looking uphill towards the tunnel at Pando – no sign of any vehicles through here

The end of our adventures for the day, looking towards the unique US 24 bridge over the Pando yard

The Leadville, Colorado & Southern

In addition to the miles and miles of “dirt-fanning”, I also managed to catch up with Leadville’s tourist railroad, the Leadville, Colorado & Southern. I happened to be in town right before 1400h, when the second scheduled departure of the day occurs. Having never actually seen the LC&S moving, I decided to follow along. The line started life as part of the Denver, South Park, & Pacific narrow gauge mainline that came west from Denver to Como over Kenosha Pass, then north to Dillon over Boreas Pass, and then down into Leadville from the north via Fremont Pass. The railroad’s sanity is often questioned, since they chose to route over two high passes (Boreas and Fremont) rather than just follow a mostly water level route from their mainline at Buena Vista north to Leadville. By 1937, the line was owned by the Colorado & Southern, and continued producing heavy traffic from the Climax Molybdenum Mine at the summit of Fremont Pass. Unfortunately, the rest of the C&S narrow gauge (the ex-South Park lines) didn’t fare as well, and were mostly abandoned in 1937. The Climax branch continued, though, and was eventually standard-gauged in late August of 1943. For years, the line continued on as an isolated branch of the Colorado & Southern and eventually Burlington Northern. In 1980, with no more mine traffic, the line, buildings, and rolling stock were sold by BN to a local couple for $10.

The line today is still owned by the same people, and now operates as the Leadville, Colorado & Southern, a tourist hauler. They make two daily trips during the summer, each lasting about 2.5 hours, between Leadville and the end of track about a mile short of the Climax Mine. The mine, meanwhile, sits idle, though there is talk of bringing it back. The line is rather hard to railfan, as once it leaves Leadville, it runs high on mountainsides overlooking the road on the valley floor several hundred feet below. There are a few exposed rock faces, though, and I was able to photograph it crossing these.

Another other major railroad to serve Leadville was the narrow gauge DSP&P, later part of the Colorado & Southern. Originally part of their narrow gauge mainline to Dillon and Denver, the line survived as a standard gauge branch.

The reason the branch survived was the Climax Molybdenum Mine, up at the summit of Fremont Pass (some 11,300 feet up)

Here's the old DSP&P depot, which is still used by the LC&S today — Here’s the old DSP&P depot, which is still used by the LC&S today

BN sold the line in 1980 after it was apparent no more mining traffic would come. Today the isolate branch survives, not hauling ore, but tourists.

This is the 2pm train, getting ready to depart Leadville

Having no turning facility at the top (the line ends on a high ridge now), they push the train uphill, lead by a special caboose

Here's 1714 pushing the train out of Leadville and up onto the branch. — Here’s 1714 pushing the train out of Leadville and up onto the branch.

After leaving Leadville, the LC&S is basically inaccessible directly by road. It travels high off the valley floor all the way to the top.

The line ends right here, unceremoniously on a ridge just below treeline. The trackage from here to the mine seems to have been torn up.

Just another shot of the train from the highway

All photographs in this trip report were taken with a Canon EOS 10D using either a Canon 28-105mm USM or a Canon 75-300mm f4-5.3 IS/USM.

This work is copyright 2024 by Nathan D. Holmes, but all text and images are licensed and reusable under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. Basically you’re welcome to use any of this as long as it’s not for commercial purposes, you credit me as the source, and you share any derivative works under the same license. I’d encourage others to consider similar licenses for their works.