Found this GREX train set unloading ballast today. Was one of two identical sets. The other set was not unloaded. When this operation was done, they departed Longmont back towards Denver. Was on wrong side of the action though. Looking up the conveyor arm Ballast unloading, and pile,as seen between cars Saw the trailer being dropped off while watch ballast operations
Any finally, a video of the train as it leaves Longmont, headed back towards Denver. [video=youtube;cgax-j9U6mc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgax-j9U6mc&list=UUWbdN8eSJ5nCEeEy6oTcGbQ&index=1&feature=plcp[/video]
Kind of a storage yard just east of town. Make and break trains headed either north or south. Or west to Lyons to the cement plant. Storage of coal hoppers also headed to Lyons. Used to keep loads/empties for Valmont power in Boulder stored here. Not sure what the plan is. There's another pile of ballast on the far east end as well. Where a couple of sidings end in damaged track!
Never seen one of those before - thanks for the pics and info. From further south, I know there seems to be no end to repair/replacement/rebuilding on the Joint Line.
Interesting seeing the entire train in that video. When you find out what they're doing, maybe you can grab a few photos of their activity. Should be fun to watch the work ongoing.
Train was actually made up of two separate sets. Each one with an unloading conveyor at one end. Interesting also, is that there are draw bars between every car! If I can get lucky enough to find out what's going on, I'll certainly try to get down for more photos. It's getting the better of curiosity on what's in the works.
Call me crazy, but what is with the "26 seconds" sign in the first post? Neat to see it in action, thanks for sharing!
The 26 seconds, I think, allows crossing gates/lights to fully activate. Accident prevention maybe. Keep train from hitting the stupid person that runs the crossing and gets hit? Then blames the railroad because they didn't see the gates/flashing lights, or the headlight/ditch lights on locomotive, or hear the blaring of the horns?? Just my WAG. What's yours?? It is unusual though.
Thanks for sharing it's not often when you get to see them at work. And sure would like to know the logic behind what they were doing or usually do for that matter.
Was it the yard in Longmont where they were working? I know the coal mty's we just left near the plant ( things may have changed though.) I know that small yard was rough in 08. Took em long enough lol
Yeah. The small yard just east of town, by the waste water treatment plant. Coal MT/Loads for Valmont in Boulder were stored there till needed. As I understand, Valmont is now a natural gas facility, so coal trains there are no more. This according to information given to me by a friend. Coal for Cemex Cement near Lyons also stored here. Have 2 tracks that end in a pile of dirt right now! Big pile of ballast there, the far east end. Big pile of ballast piled on the west end also, where photos taken. Not sure what they plan on doing, or when! Wouldn't mind seeing them replace, or extend the 2 shortened tracks. They may be upgrading the entire area at some point. Could use some heavier rails too!! Can grab more photos of the area when my weekend rolls around. Weather permitting. Hearing several inches of snow Sat night into Sunday.
A few photos of the east end of small yard. From this morning. An overall view. Same area, as seen from other side. Looking west. Plenty of parked equipment. Plenty of rotten track and fairly light rails. And actually, not major accidents in the area. Except for at least one I recall. When a couple of empty pig flats were shoved through a turnout set wrong! One car ended up in the water, of a small collection pond, once used by the Great Western beat company. A second car sat at a 45° angle to the track, and at a 45° angle towards the water! Stayed like that for a couple of months or more!
