Raton Pass

[Anonymous]

Do the freights over Raton Pass run on any type of schedule (assuming one each way per day)? If one could only get one picture, where is the best place to go?

[Anonymous]

bnsf was running coal trains out of the york canyon mine on the west side of raton. the contract with the utility may have expired so this may no longer be true. an occasional manifest will route over raton but seldom and erratic. just above the old wooten ranch offers many angles for camera work.

[favuprailroadfan]

Allen,

I have been to Raton several times. There are alot of good spots along the line to get pictures. Try the north side, it might be kind of tough since their aren't very many exits off the interstate. The Southwest Chief(WB) is due through in the early afternoon. Eastbound, somewhere later in the day, possibly late afternoon. I never have seen the EB, so I'm not for sure. I have seen the WB through several times around 1:00 coming into Raton. The freights run occasionally run at night. But they can and will run during the day. Now BNSF has started routing its 683 train this way. It runs from Birmingham AL, to Los Angelas. I know it seems a little ridicules(sp, but I guess it is their call. I should also run through there during the day. So I hope that this info helps a little.

Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

The freights that you see are the LJBA, and BALJ. They run La Junta CO, to Barstow CA.