Tennessee Pass

[Anonymous]

Recently I moved cross country, and as luck would have it, I-70 was washed out by the spring thaw, near Vail, Colorado. All traffic was detoured over the old US route 24, through the Tennessee pass, which was a lovely, scenic journey. (wish you coulda seen those semi's having to deal with 7% grades and hairpin turns, it was like a ballet)

Of course, I couldn't help but to notice the mile upon mile of static railway, and wondered whose "failure story" it must have belonged to.

Week or so later, I pick up the latest issue, and there it is, all layed out for me, (talk about coincidence), and having recently "been there", it was especially meaningful.

Having seen the UP traffic paralleling the Colorado river through most of Colorado from Utah eastward, it's hard to imagine anyone prefering the "mountain goat" skyline path to the seemingly easy flowing path UP enjoys in it's priveliged course along what little flat land exists to either side of the river, for "thru" freight, if they had a choice. A seeming "no brainer", unless the Tennessee path route generated traffic locally, something I saw little evidence of even being possible...not much industry in them thar hills...

Or is/was there? Anybody know?

As an Aside, the one thing I noticed in passing was how freshly painted much of the signaling looked along the Tennessee pass line, which suprised me after reading just how long it had been dormant. Bright bright silver shine on those poles, has this been a part of preserving the value of the standing (but dormant) asset?

Nary a live train did I see on the route, I'll admit that, but some of the rails had a shine to them too, as opossed to the all too familiar orange powder.

[mudchicken]

Parkdale to Minturn/Eagle is dormant. Once in a very great while, UP will run a maintenance train (usually a car mover and a few gons to pick up scrap material) ....Only other activity out there is the occasional Hi-rail truck (usually signal)checking on the circuits so the system can be called-on to be FRA compliant if they open up the line. (ONLY in the bowels of 1416 Dodge Street is the answer to that known)....

ps...Raton Pass to the south is looking busier

[foamer4000]

Tennassee pass dates back to the mineing days. In those day their was originating traffic on the line. As time went on the gold and silver mines closed and Utah coal became the prised eastbound load. The grand kept the pass open to handel the trafic volume and double stack trains. Let me tell you what an awsome experiance it was to hear and see 13 tunnel motors lift a 16k ton train up over the pass.(yes 13 units under power, 4 head end, 5 swing, 4 rear) It was an experience everybit as poetic as double heading Big Boys!
David

[Anonymous]

David,

So you live in that area huh? Beautiful country!! I lived in Denver for a time, years ago, and got familiar with the area, "Garden of the Gods" "Royal Gorge" etc,..mighty pretty place.

Driving from Grand Junction to Denver was a real treat,..visually anywaythe moving van I was driving was overweight, and loaded a bit top heavy,..plus I was pulling a trailer...and the cornering strategies of the first two versus the latter are not exactly compatible, making the drive up US 24 over Tennessee Pass a trip to remember I assure you.

Just incase you might know, just a few miles west of Vail on I-70, is a high ridge that the interstate snakes around, the ridge being on the north side of the highway. At the very top, someone has built a truly palatial mansion, in the past 3-5 years. If you're familiar with the area, you'll know the one I mean, it is really imposing

Any idea who built that? They must have MEGA MEGA bux...(just curious)