Just down the tracks from Rifle...

... is what looks like a cement batch plant. Is this correct? I can't find many pictures of it, just looking at in on Google Earth, and from my memory from passing it a few times.
Any other info would be great :tb-biggrin:

-Mike

 

Mike,

I know which one you are talking about but I am not 100% positive of what type of operation it is. I can tell you that rail activity in that area has increased dramatically with the natural gas boom over the last 5 years. Now days when driving I-70 you see a lot of covered hoppers and flat cars delivering drilling supplies.

Ben

 

Thanks Ben I just remember the few times I've been past there, that I seen quite a few covered hoppers sitting around, and there was what looked like a loader for 2 tracks. Trying to get an idea of stuff to model.

Another question you'd know, is that a coal mine there at Cameo? It looks like a balloon track just upriver. I also remember lots of hoppers sitting here when I've been past there, both driving and on Amtrak.

-Mike

 

Lacy

Hi Mike,
The area you are seeing is called Lacy.
There is indeed a cement batch plant there owned by Holcim.
There are other tracks that service the gas patch as Ben said.
Lots of pipe, frac sand, and who knows what else.
Also, lumber is brought in every so often, but usually only a car or two.
As far as Cameo, there was a mine load-out there, but it is in the process of being dismantled. And the balloon track, only the UP knows.
They are using the house track at Cameo for what appears to be storage and/or unloading.
Hope this helps.

 

Rod, thank you! Looking at that area in Google Earth, I see the batch plant, but didn't know what the other stuff was. Now that you say there is pipes there, that is what the stuff looks like. Kind of an all in one industry. Cool!

-Mike

 

Thanks Rod! I should have know that you would have the answer.

Ben

 

Lacy

A little more info about Lacy.
It is a relatively new siding, as I presume it was installed in 1983, because it was not listed in the April 1983 System timetable, but is listed in the October 1983 System TT.
Also, the current Google Earth I have does not show the latest construction boom in the immediate area.
Three huge silos and numerous building and storage yards have been added in the last year alone. (sorry, no pics at this time)

 

Lacy Shots

Well I talked my brother into heading up to Lacy so that I could grab a few pictures for this topic. The pictures are not the best due to the early morning sun and the fact that I was shooting them from a moving vehicle.





The spur below is used to off load drilling pipe.




Ben

 

Here is a better shot of the cement batch plant that Rod was referring too.








Ben

 

I know that the plant has been there for some time but I am not sure what all it serves. Maybe Rod can help??

Ben

 

Holcim plant at Lacy

There are currently no concrete highway projects regarding the state in the area of Rifle.
My guess is the cement plant is a distribution point for that area.
The gas patch probably kept them busy as well as other construction projects, but who knows now.
Presumably, the other large silos are for loading frac sand into trucks.

 

ask and you shall receive...Thanks guys! :thumbs_up: Ben, those pics are great! You didn't need to drive the, what 100 miles, up there? I hope you got alot more pics around that area, at least to make your trip worth it. Thanks again! :tb-biggrin:

-Mike

 

Thanks. Actually my brother was up for a road trip so I got him to drive. It was nice to ride in the passenger's seat for a change.

Ben

 

A lot has changed over the years in both Cameo and Parachute. The old Powderhorn mine in Cameo shut down and a lot of the structures were dismantled and some reclamation work was done at the site last year. As Rod mentioned early the load out facility is currently being torn down. I heard a rumor that Haliburton will be using the old coal load out facility tracks for unloading frac sand from hoppers to semi trucks.

Parachute has picked up quite a bit due to the natural gas development. You almost always see hoppers along the siding from I-70 that are supporting the drilling rigs. The short spur that heads north of Parachute back up towards the bookcliffs also sees additional rail traffic that supports all of the refinery type facilities that the gas companies have built.

Here are a few shots of some of the hoppers that you see from I-70 at Parachute:








Ben

 

Great Shots again!!!!!!!

:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
​

 

Thanks Darren! Here are a few more hopper shots from that location.









Ben