Wagon Mound, NM-Well I'm only 27 yrs. old and I know it couldn't have been that long ago but. I enjoyed the days when I was growing up seeing long freight trains with mid train helpers usually 8 locos total. This was when the York Canyon Coal Mine in NE NM was up and running. I would see 2 loaded and two empty coalies daily with ATSF/SP power. The Amtrak SW Chief would pass twice daily once in each direction (and still does today) and the only treak was the occasional 1-2 intermodels every two weeks or so. The freights were the BALJ-LJBA which would go from La Junta, CO to Barstow, CA. We would also see quite a few PRB coalies loaded and empty running through. Present day on the BNSF! Well we still have Amtrak SW CHIEF daily in each direction. 2 empty PRB coalies (EB) bi-daily, 2-5 empty grainies (EB) daily, and an occasional baretable here and there in each direction. What happened? I enjoyed the freight traffic and now I have to travel 120 miles to Vaughn, NM or 90 miles North to Trinidad, CO to see freight traffic. There was nothing like the ATSF Raton Pass Sub!
Sammy and all tuned in, It was good to read your story. It sounds like you enjoyed your time working for the Santa Fe. Your story reminded me of those told by my family of rails. Thanks for sharing.
