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Cal Z possible rare mileage

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Posted by MidlandMike on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 7:51 PM

dakotafred

Mike: So UP must use BNSF trackage if it wants to take the short way to Denver? Sure seems odd -- but then, I've been gone from there a long time. I'll have to look at a map. Maybe traffic off the Omaha line finds its way to the upgraded KP (and thence to Denver) further east?

 

UP's system map just shows the Julesberg to Denver route described, although one of the previous links seems to indicate that they don't use it much.  I guess that Cheyenne is the normal Denver connection with the Omaha line.

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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 10:53 AM

From Altamont Press's June 26, 2005 Rocky Mountain Region Timetable, I see that the UP's line southwest from Julesburg is dark territory to Sterling (57.5 miles) and then has ABS to Union, where it connects with the BNSF (BNSF has trackage rights Sterling-Union--controlled by BNSF DS). BNSF has CTC Union-Brush-Denver.

From Sharon Springs, Kansas, to Pullman Jct. (in Denver), the UP is primarily dark, with ABS in various towns along the way.

Quite interesting, isn't it?

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Posted by dakotafred on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 6:18 AM

Mike: So UP must use BNSF trackage if it wants to take the short way to Denver? Sure seems odd -- but then, I've been gone from there a long time. I'll have to look at a map. Maybe traffic off the Omaha line finds its way to the upgraded KP (and thence to Denver) further east?

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, March 23, 2015 9:53 PM

Yes! I remember now. The CZ would run on its usual route west of Brush, on the BNSF branch to Sterling, and then on the UP to Julesburg and east--unless it used the UP all the way from Denver through Cheyenne.

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Posted by MidlandMike on Monday, March 23, 2015 9:07 PM

dakotafred

 

 
MidlandMike

I guess they will have to go thru Cheyenne, since UP abandoned Ft. Morgan-LaSalle.

 

 

 
No more Julesburg-Denver cutoff? That one is hard to figure. About how long ago did that happen, Mike?
 

Julesburg-Sterling segment is still there.  At Sterling UP and BNSF merge, and UP would have to use BNSF's route to Denver, since UP abandoned most of that line west of the Ft. Morgan area.  There is also a remnant that runs for about 10 miles east of LaSalle.  The abandoments were in the 1990s.

www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,3054599

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Posted by dakotafred on Monday, March 23, 2015 5:03 PM

Right you are, Johnny -- thanks.

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, March 23, 2015 11:01 AM

Fred, may I make another correction? The line ran from Julesburg to La Salle, where it joined the Denver-Cheyenne line.

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Posted by dakotafred on Monday, March 23, 2015 10:38 AM

Please note: I corrected my post (2 above) to read Julesburg-Denver.

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, March 23, 2015 10:10 AM

I have a memory of reading something about the abandonment of a section, but I do not recall how long ago it was. The Bing map of the line shows that the track is still there, and SPV's map (1995) shows it.

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Posted by dakotafred on Monday, March 23, 2015 6:12 AM

MidlandMike

I guess they will have to go thru Cheyenne, since UP abandoned Ft. Morgan-LaSalle.


 
No more Julesburg-Denver cutoff? That one is hard to figure. About how long ago did that happen, Mike?
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, March 22, 2015 10:54 PM

Colorado railfan site many pictures.

http://www.coloradorailfan.com/gallery/gallery.asp?on=20150322

 

 

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Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, March 22, 2015 10:33 PM

I guess they will have to go thru Cheyenne, since UP abandoned Ft. Morgan-LaSalle.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, March 22, 2015 6:37 PM

Unconfirmed report Cal Z both 5 & 6 will travel UP Omaha - Denver.

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Cal Z possible rare mileage
Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, March 22, 2015 5:44 PM

BNSF derailed a coal train in Hudson  ( ~ 30 miles NE of Denver ) going into Denver. The train derailed in town but did not come apart until an unknown distance out in rural area.  Unconfirmed reports say due to much track damage Cal Z will detour Omaha - Denver.  No route details yet.

This line is joint UP, BNSF< Amtrak line. 

http://www.9news.com/story/news/2015/03/22/train-derails-in-weld-county/25181437/

 http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27763975/coal-train-derails-near-hudson-no-injuries

 

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