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Any good train watching around Clayton New Mexico or Boise City Oklahoma?

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  • Member since
    July 2017
  • 59 posts
Any good train watching around Clayton New Mexico or Boise City Oklahoma?
Posted by IbanezGuiness on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 5:01 PM

Next month I'll be at the Okie-Tex Star Party which is next to Kenton, Oklahoma, right at the end of the Pan Handle. The two nearest towns are Clayton New Mexico and Boise City Oklahoma. I usually go to Clayton if I need supplies or need to do laundry. I can see on the map it looks like there are lines that run through both of those towns, wondering if anyone knows how much traffic is on these lines? Also by chance if either has ATCS available? 

I'll be traveling from Jefferson City, Missouri so if anyone knows of any good spots on the way there I might have some time while traveling. 

 

Thanks! 

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Posted by diningcar on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 10:14 AM

BNSF trains at both locations. Boise City is on the Denver to Amarillo line with trains destined for Texas locations. Clayton is on the Amarillo to Denver line with trains destined for locations in Colorado and further. Both one-way traffic under normal operations. 

  • Member since
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Posted by IbanezGuiness on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 1:59 PM

Great, thanks for the info. Any idea what the name of the subdivisions are so I can see if there is an ATCS server available? Any idea which line usually has more traffic? Clayton is my preferred spot to go. 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 3:48 PM

Boise City and Twin Peaks Subs

The US-54/ US-287 intersection east of town is the best place to see if there is any activity at Boise City. Every once in a great while, there might be a Cimmarron Valley RR grain train at interchange there coming in from the NE on the former ATSF CV District (Via Satanta & Dodge City)...

Boise City was to be a major yard and engine facility that would have rivalled La Junta or Pueblo in relative size. An awfull lot of unused infrastructure went in at Boise City south of the main track that Dining Car's staff sold off in the 1980's after it became obvious there was no need for a switching facilty there any more.

(J A Noble probably watched in frustration as the future turned to dust)

You will still be able to see the fill of the ATSF Boise City-Felt to Clayton line at Clayton from Hwy 287 near Clayton (very obvious) that died in 1942 along with the Mt Dora to Farley portion that also came out (ill-fated Colmor Cutoff bypass of Raton Pass)

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by guetem1 on Thursday, August 24, 2017 11:29 PM
Boise City Sub runs from Las Animas, CO to Amarillo, TX, Boise City is totally dark track warrant authority. Amarillo to Texline, NM is the Dalhart sub, Twin Peaks sub is Texline to Trinidad, CO, authority is ABS on the Dalhart and CTC from DesMoines to Trinidad, CO

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