coloradorailroads

Rollins Pass, Rifle Notch Loop and low-res illustration

These shots are only for use in my commentary about Google Earth as a suitable help for railfans. Although the data in the images are copyrighted by Google, I am allowed to upload and use them for illustration under fair use.

Rollins Pass, Rifle Notch Loop and low-res illustration
coloradorailroads, Sep 24, 2006
    • HemiAdda2d
      One of the absolute toughest, most brutal railroad passes ever operated. And SP thought that Donner was tough.. Try rotaries mandatory 9 months of the year!
    • BoxcabE50
      Looks like the later built road follows a fair amount of that old r-o-w. Seems to have plenty of twists and turns of it's own.

      :D

      Boxcab E50
    • HemiAdda2d
      The road deviates from the ROW at Tunnel 31 (collapsed), and at Needles Eye Tunnel, Tunnel 32, as it is collapsing as well. The road was recently closed beyond Devil's Slide trestles as well.
      Tunnel 33 is collapsed under Rifle Sight Notch trestle. Beyond RSN, the road diverges from the ROW, and rejoins near Ranch Creek Wye. Giant's Ladder above Tolland is intact, as is Spruce Wye, with the exception of the Tunnel 31 loop. I think it is possible to drive to Corona, at 11,660 feet elevation, but you must go from the west side of the pass. EXCELLENT Rollins Pass info here:
      http://www.daeunert.de/Colorado/html/rollins_pass.html
    • coloradorailroads
      This is great info. Thanks!
    • HemiAdda2d
      I know that, thanks to various railfan reports, sites, and an hour on Google Earth tracing the old ROW over Rollins Pass.. Sometimes it gets hard to trace.
    • BoxcabE50
      If snows were heavy work for the RR, I'd imagine that road is also closed much of any year.

      :D

      Boxcab E50
    • HemiAdda2d
      Beyond Giants Ladder, likely yes. The west side is just as dicey, road wise, once you get to Arrow, methinks.
    • HemiAdda2d
      Ranch Creek Wye is just out of the hi-res section of this shot. The road traces the original ROW at this location, and the tail of the wye is blurry, but visible. From Ranch Creek Wye to Spruce Wye, 9 months out of the year, rotaries operated. Just to keep the line open! The terrific winds would fill a cut minutes after a train passed thru!
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    coloradorailroads
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    Sep 24, 2006
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