What can folks tell me about the DRGW that rolls into Montrose, Colorado, on Friday afternoons, does its cool switching, and rolls back out of town again . Does it head directly back to GJ with its load of wood chips?? Any other stops along the way?? One day my son and I will get the chance to follow it all the way back up to GJ, but any info now would be great!! Thanks and Happy Railroading!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
Hi John, I know the local does the candy factory, maybe some tankcars, and ? there in Montrose as well. Last time I was in Delta, it looked like there were a few industries to do there, including a lumber yard. What days they do specific switching is anyones guess. Hope this helps. They also might do the lumber mill in Olathe. ------------------ Rod v. B. Rio Grande iNdustries [This message has been edited by rgn1 (edited 21 December 2000).]
I've seen loaded woodchip cars in the yard in 'Junction, and my guess is that they're headed for the G-P plant in Olathe. I've yet to see a Montrose local on the line, but I've caught a lot of coal trains headed out of 'Junction. And most interestingly, more SD9043MACs have been used for power (used to be heavy with AC4400Ws and AC6044Ws). ------------------ Southeast....Southwest.. Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T. Member # 362 http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html
Thanks gys. Yeah they switch the candy factory, lumber yard and wood chip gons here in town. I bet ypu are right about the mill in Olathe!! Happy Railroading!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
They also service the Budwieser distibution warehouse in Delta from the brewery in Ft.Collins. Mike ------------------ Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html
Mike, do they bring the beer into Junction from Ft. Collins to be picked up by the Montrose train?? Happy Railroading!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
Yes, the Ft.Collins local LDI02 out of LaSalle picks up the cars from the Great Western. The LDI07 then takes them to Henderson(south of Brighton) to be picked up by the LDI06 to Rolla. Then either a anpdv or acydv picks them up and takes them to Denver, then put on a mdvro or mdvgj to Grand Jct. About a seven day process to go 400 miles in the same state on the same railroad, and you wonder how truckers can compete. Mike Railblazer ------------------ Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html
Wow!! That is complicated!! This has been my complaint for many years...we simply don't use the railroads in this country to their full potential. Maybe things will get better with the new fuel crunch, but I doubt it!! From reading your profile I see you are an engineer. How long have you been doing it?? Are things better or worse since the merger?? Happy railroading!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
JCater, I hired out with the DRGW/SP and have been an engineer since Oct 95. You are right about not using the railroads potential. But this comes from not having any expereinced rails running the show. Instead you now have college educated "kids" that graduated from a generic business school that don't have a clue what a railroad is or does. (maybe they should read the book) Just like any other company, the employee that gets promoted is the one with the 4+ years of college vs. the employee with 4+ years of expereince. Even though the SP was a run down railroad at least they TRIED and employees went the extra mile for them and employees had pride in their SP or DRGW. Working with the combined senority here in Denver with the UP and taking trains to Cheyenne, you don't see that kind of pride in the UP employees. Ask any UP rail when the UP stopped being the UP and he/she will tell you when the UP merged with the MP and MP management took over. It's extremely hard to run a railroad or any type of business when you have inexpereinced employees(both management and new hires) and employees that are just there to make a paycheck. UP does need to get it's priorities in order or they aren't going to make it. The economy has kept them going so far but as we have heard there might be a recession in the future. UP has already drastically cut back in the Mechanical and MofW depts, and another 2000 jobs are on the line come the end of January. There will more than likely be more layoffs due to UP hiring some many during the meltdown and for the failed 60/30 retirement. All one has to do is read a little history, it's happened before and it'll happened again. It's just the nature of things. Don't get me all wrong, I'm 4th generation rail and I love railroading. 3 generations CB&Q paternal side, and 2 generations UP maternal side. It does get into your blood and I wouldn't dream of doing anything else. I just hope the UP or whatever it becomes will last another 25 years until I can retire. Have a safe and Happy New Year Mike Railblazer ------------------ Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html
So do many of the DRGW crews in Colorado make long hauls anymore, or are they mainly locals? How long are you away from home are you at a time?? Do engineers make a decent salary?? Just general curiosities. You mentioned hauling coal out of Wyoming. What part of Wyoming?? Where is the coal bound to in Colorado?? Happy Railroading!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
John, Yes we still work the road. Out of Jct the crews either go south to the mines, east to Bond. I'm not sure if they are working west of Jct or if that's all SLC crews. Out of Denver we have Denver-Bond, Denver-Pburg,Denver-Cheyenne, Denver-Sharon Springs. The Pueblo boys work Pueblo-Denver. Out on the road you average 36 hours away from home. The pay real varies as to which jobs/runs you are working. The yard/local jobs pay less than the road jobs, but you are home everyday and get 1-2 days off per week. Plus it depends on how much you layoff. I'd say you'd make between 50-100K per year. Most of the coal between Denver and Cheyenne is off the DRGW enroute to the south and east. The only common coal load south out of Cheyenne is the Nixon/Drake train which is loading out of PRB. If and when they ever get the KP line done to Kansas City there won't be to many coal trains between Denve and Cheyenne. Mike Railblazer ------------------ Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html
Mike, thanks for the insights into real railroading. You bring to life the work that railroaders do, instead of just the glamour that we railfans are likely to see. We can forget that railroads are there to do the job of moving commodities, not just to give railfans spectacular things to photograph! Keep 'em rollin' ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Holy Cow!! Where do I sign up for that gig?? I'm usually out of town 8 days and back 6, for a lot less money a year!! Plus...you get to work real trains. Wow (drool, slobber, eyes glazed over...). Happy Railroading!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
John, But the benefits of knowing when and where you're going to work. That's why I've enjoyed working the local out of LaSalle. I do miss running in the mountains,but it's nice having a life also. As I was wtiting this I got bumped off my daylight job. So now I'll be working nights. Mike ------------------ Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html
Nights must be tough...what kind of shift is that, how many hours?? Happy Railroading!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
It's the LDI03 which makes up the locals out of LaSalle. Works Mon-Fri starting 8:00pm. Anywhere from 6-12 hours depending on business. Not a bad job if you keep busy.;wink Mike ------------------ Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html
What kind of volume do you handle on the night shift?? Is it mainly local freight or coal?? Happy Railroading !! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
Well in the 3 nights that I worked so far, we averaged about 150 cars per night. It's all cars for the locals. The only coal we handle is approx. 30 a week that goes to the cement plant at Boetcher(sp) just northwest of Ft.Collins. Mike ------------------ Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html
Lets see...150 cars per night, shift starts around 8, cars are ready by 9, what do you do the rest of the night? (LOL). Sounds like hard work, but very rewarding, especially carrying on a family rail tradition. Listen, if you ever get over Montrose way, let me know and maybe we can get together. Good luck and Happy Railroading!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
John, Well bumped again Don't know where I'll go. Probably the Moffat. Haven't been on the road in 18 months And if you're ever on the east side look me up. Mike ------------------ Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html
