Coming home from work the other morning (I work nights), I was driving along the UP main along the business loop in Grand Junction, and heading west towards the yard was a BNSF coal train with SD70MACs in both BNSF and cream/green paint jobs. The power was pulling a train consisting of BN aluminum coal gons. I know BNSF has trackage rights on UP from Denver to California, and BNSF power is used to switch certain local industries. However, I was not aware of any coal traffic, either off the Montrose and North Fork Branches or from Utah. Any ideas?
It could have maybe been a detour around a derailment some place else. [ 28 September 2001: Message edited by: Jack Doran ]</p>
Thanks Guys, that explains where they go...Ok your probably wondering where they are coming from..more than likely the Utah RR on Helper. BN has coal contracts out of there. I don't know where they are going but there is the originating point for you. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
I believe I found the answer- the BNSF coal trains are handled by BNSF crews to Grand Junction, then by Utah Ry. crews from Grand Jct. to a coal loadout around Helper. (Utah Ry. has had trackage rights from Helper to GJ since the UP-SP merger, but only now has this been exercised). I don't know where the loads go (most likely back east). Power is mostly AC-type (the SD70MACs), in much the same manner as the UP coal trains.
Utah RY has trackage rights from GJ to OG (Ogden). The coal is loaded at one of three places in the Helper area. Wildcat on the UTAH, CV or COOP on the CV Spur south of Wellington. As for as I know, BNSF does not have trackage rights to CV Spur, but UTAH does. Gets confoosing. As a side note, BNSF loads out at Willow Creek when the mine is open there. They had a small bo-bo a while back and the mine is closed. There is a company ventilating it now under contract to the owner. If they can get all the gas out, get it checked, and finish up the investigation, the CO that is doing the work wants to buy it and resume operations. When it went boom, they were using longwall. If they open it again, it will be room and piler. Even this part gets confooosing. <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by friscobob: I believe I found the answer- the BNSF coal trains are handled by BNSF crews to Grand Junction, then by Utah Ry. crews from Grand Jct. to a coal loadout around Helper. (Utah Ry. has had trackage rights from Helper to GJ since the UP-SP merger, but only now has this been exercised). I don't know where the loads go (most likely back east). Power is mostly AC-type (the SD70MACs), in much the same manner as the UP coal trains.<hr></blockquote>
