I was wondering if anybody with knowledge of the track layout between Colorado Springs (Santa Fe junction) and Fountain could clarify something for me? A number of publications, and videos has stated that when the Santa Fe tracks THROUGH Colorado Springs was withdrawn in 1971, that the former DRGW trackage became the main line, with longer sidings installed to allow two way running. This single track runs from Palmer Lake down to Kelker, where the track become double again. However takinga look at Google Earth and Terra Server, there seems to be some difference. After the single line reaches Kelker, it is double tracked around the Fort Carson Junction area. After this it goes back to single track again. Careful analysis of the aerial photographs does not show a second track and it is not until the signle track has passed over the Fountaine Boulevard grade crossing in Widefield, that it returns to double track so that the northbound and southbound tracks can go their seperate ways, to pass through Fountain. Can somebody please confirm that this is correct, and my eyesight is not playing tricks on me. and secondly can they say when this section of track was made single line from Kelker to Widefield. thanks Ron
To my knowledge, from the "big lift" just south of Littleton... or Centennial as some call it now... there are 2 tracks that run up and over palmer divide. one nb, one sb. As I understand it, U.P. owns one side, BNSF, owns the other. It gets kind of strange after that. Most of the mainline into the springs is used to serve the 2 coal fired power plants here. one off I-25 and colo blvd ish, one just south of fountain. then they continue down to pueblo etc... I have seen a few different manifest trains on the main. Usually they are hauling new vehicles up to the drop off where the big lift begins. As far as the double track? I think.... crossing at fontane blvd in... "lovely fountain" co... ive never seen it used by a train. But I don't have reason to go down there, so.... There is a guy on you.tube.it... that has modeled the denver yard to palmer lake if that helps
Out of Denver is double track till you get to Castle Rock. From Castle rock to Palmer lake is double track but on different sides of the highway. The south track on the west side of the interstate belongs to BNSF, the east track that goes through the town of Castle Rock is the north traffic belongs to Union Pacific. Look at history and the DNRG and the Santa Fe had what was called a flyover. One was south of Denver, one just north of Palmer Lake. The bridge supports are still there. At Palmer Lake to the north end of Colorado Springs is single track with a siding at Monument and one on the Air Force Academy. At North Colorado Springs just south of Fillmore street it becomes two tracks not neccessarly nort or south but more like sidings with a yard between Uinta and the Martin Blake power plant. There is a lumber yard and the lead in track to Martin Drake power plant that is switched by UP, the UP keeps an engine in the Springs. BNSF seems to switch the cement plant. They bring the cars and an engine from Denver and returns with the empties. Just south of the power plant it becomes single track again. This track belongs to the UP. Just South of Fountain Ave. or Martin Luther bypass is a passing siding which continues south pass the city of Fountain. From there the west track has the lead in track to Fort Carson yard. There is also a cement plant and several other business that are switched. Just before Pueblo the tracks split. The west track goes around Pueble to the west into the BNSF yard. The east track, Union Pacific goes into Pueble to their yard. From Pueble BNSF goes both east to Lamar and south to Trindad. I hope this helps. There are 70 a day on the joint line. Not all coal trains, wind turbine trains go both directions, auto trains both directions. Some pig trains, not to often, every once in a while you will see 737 airplanes going north. I live in Palmer Lake and watch the different trains. Drive to the airport so I travel along that route every day. Right now the circus train is setting on the siding in down town Colorado Springs.
I did forget about the power plant south of Fountain you would have to google map that area because of the way the lead in track goes into and comes out of the plant.
If memory serves that lead in starts somewhere east of the highway, crosses a bridge then to the plant. I only have seen a single set of tracks going through the plant. hard to see from the road though, so I have no clue if they back it in all that way to dump coal, or...
