BNSF Front Range Subdivision - 2012
Author: Richard Kundert
2012 was a memorable year for the Front Range Sub. Traffic was at an all-time high in part to the success of the Great Western Industrial park in Windsor, CO. Unit trains of Turbine blades, frac sand, oil and grain were interchanged with the Great Western at Fort Collins. In addition, the opening of an industrial park at Speer, WY (south of Cheyenne) added trains of oil and other commodities. 2012 also saw the elimination of "true" Street running along Mason St. It had been over 30 years since the tracks in Mason Street received any kind of major rehabilitation. In a cooperative venture between BNSF and the City of Fort Collins, the street and tracks were completely removed. Curbs were installed to keep the tracks separate from the street, new ties and new welded rail was installed and train speeds raised from 10 mph to 25 mph. I hope you enjoy this colorful look at the Front Range Sub in 2012!
Photo Gallery
Heres a rare view of vason St without any vehicular traffic! A northbound empty coal train.
CP units were very unusual on the Front Range Sub, but CP 9738 leads the LAUDEN down Mason St.
The 1920 had been on lease to the Great Western, but it was returned and powers the Longmont Switch back to Longmont.
On Atwood Street in Longmont
A long northbound,Longmont switch passing Highland
Atwood Street in Longmont
A southbound military train at Owl Canyon.
The parking garage at the north end of Mason St provided the vantage point for many photos. Here, a southbgund heads down the street at 10mph.
Approaching Longs Peak with the Longmont Switch. The engineer did not like railfans and frequently turned the headlight off.
A northbound officer train on Mason St.
A brand new ES44C4 leads an officer train on Mason St.
South of Fort Collins at Trilby Road with the Pueblo-Laurel (PUELAU)
From the Mason Street parking garagi
Dropping new rail
Existing street running before removal
The Longmont Switch has an ES44 leading on the trip back to Longmont. This was the second-to-last train on Mason St before the track was removed.
This southbound was the last through train on Mason Street before the track was removed. The next morning, the tracks would be gone.
Tracks reooved and new welded rail shoved aside to facilitate construction
Photographed from the varking garage on Mason street
The BNSF brought in its mechanized track laying equlpment. This machine would distribute ties, pull the rail into place and spike it down. it was an incredible machine to watch!!
Even though much work remained, the Front Range Sub was opened for traffic on 8/4/2012. The first train through was an empty coal train.
By late August, street conssruction and railroad signal installation was complete and trains were rolling down Mason Street at 25mph. Here the TACDEN stack train rolls south
The Longmont Switch picked up a long train from the GWR at North Zard and is returning to Longmont
A former Burlington GP40 in fresh H3 BNSF paint
Mountain & Mason with the CHEDEN.
From the Courthouse lawn, the Longmont switch heads south
UP, CSX and BNSF locomotives approach the south siding switch at Fort Collins
A rebuilt SD45-2 (classified as an SD40-2R) leads the Longmont Switch down Mason St.
Southbound on Mason Street