We start with this signal that is located near the I-70 overpass. Here we find a speed limit sign at approximately mile post 304. Approaching Minturn Ben
Entering the west side of the Minturn yard. A quick look back over my shoulder. Continuing into the yard. Ben
Derail Looking west from the yard. A rusted sign sitting north of the Minturn yard. More switch stands. Ben
Continuing into Minturn. Another derail. I followed the track to this building. Was it used as a small engine service structure? The tracks appear to run through it and the sign on the door cautions people of an open pit inside. http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/2131/Minturm_RR_Structure.jpg Ben
Passing through town I shot a picture of the Turn Table Restaurant. Have any of you eaten there? How is the food? Here are a couple of shots of the remaining electronic controlled RR crossing. One of several remaining No Trespassing signs. Ben
Heading out of town toward Red Cliff at Mile Post 301. Looking west from MP 301 back toward Minturn. As we head up the pass I stopped and took a shot looking down at the track. Ben
These signals set west of Red Cliff near the Highway 24 bridge. This bridge sets relatively close to the signals above. My last picture for the trip was taken of this vehicle bridge that crosses the tracks in Red Cliff. I was really bummed that I didn't have time to continue over the pass. I guess that this will give me a good reason to go back to the area. Ben
Ben, Thank you so much for sharing these pic's with us.Speaking for myself,you cant imagin how much I appreciate them!I really do plan on sitting down in that resturant one day for a coffee & hot cakes! ( my dad did this on a trip there back in the 80's) Great to see there is still plenty of "NO TRESPASS" signs 'hanging' around lol. Please,pm me before you plan on heading back there,I'd like to help out with the next trip.... I notice the shot looking down into the valley,you can see ( I think ) its the siding track still still covered over with road base for the road trucks & safety bunting along the river. This was done for the re-hab (or removal) of the cribbing walls near the mine,I read that the river was being contaminated because the cribbing walls were giving way & material leaching into the river water.Dont know if they plan on putting back as they found it....... Here are 2 pic's of that area,1st is a close up of that road/right of way. 2nd is of a very interesting peice on the main just near Gilman mine,the rail was damaged from a rock fall but was repaired by track crew......very odd or very promising? (I'm sorry I cant remember where I found these pic's,I only hope the owner doesn't mind me using them here.)
Wow, that is odd. How did they know it was broken in the first place? Do they have MOW run the tracks every now and then to keep and eye on stuff like this? Ben, as always, love looking at your pictures! Mike
Thanks Jason! Let me know if you make it over here and I'll meet you for coffee and hot cakes in Minturn. I believe that you are correct about the location of my shot that overlooks the valley. I was wondering what was going on with the silt fence along the road. After looking at your shots I have decided that I need to get down on the valley floor to see what awaits me. Thanks Mike! I had read somewhere on the internet that a U.P. MOW vehicle can be seen driving the track on occasion. It also sounded like the U.P. had done some track work between Eagle and Minturn in 2007 with the idea that they could store coal hoppers on it. From what I have read the folks in Minturn were not to excited about the idea. Ben
UP was using the tracks between Eagle and Minturn for storage a few years ago, I don't know if they are still doing it though. As to the track repairs - isn't the FRA requiring UP to keep this line? I know awhile ago, the FRA denied UP's request for abandonment. One of the reasons was because it was a strategic asset that could be used in the event of war. Eric
