Colorado and Utah

NA JUNCTION CO September 1977 -- A westbound Missouri Pacific train led by GP38-2 2023 approaches the junction with the Santa Fe in Southeastern Colorado. EMD built the unit (b/n 7344-15) as MP 872 in January 1972. (Roster information from http://utahrails.net/up-diesel-roster/up-diesel-roster-36.php#gp38-2-2335-1)

ANTONITO CO Nov 1977 -- A vacation to New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming yielded this photo of C&TS 2-8-2 495.

DENVER CO Oct 20 1977 -- Colorado and Southern-Santa Fe SW12 157 slowly heads for a cut of cars while performing switching duties. The unit is jointly operated by C&S and Santa Fe. EMD built it as SW1200 157 (s/n 25007) for C&S in February 1959. It was renumbered as SW12 252 in August 1979, became Burlington Northern 252 in 1982, became BNSF 3520 in April 1989, then BP Products North America ARPX 458 and then became BP Amoco Chemical Co BPOX 458. A big thank you for LocoNotes contributors Don Ross and Russ Strodtz for pointing me in the right direction to identify this unit. (Roster information from http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net./dr362.htm, http://archive.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/SW12/INDEX.HTM, http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=133834, http://www.locophotos.com/Search.php?SearchOrderNumber=4425&Search=Search)

DENVER CO Oct 20 1977 -- Rio Grande GP9 5902 is shown at North Yard. Web site utahrails.net records that the unit was, "Sold to Mid America Car, Kansas City, Kans., in June 1984; leased to Kyle Railways 5902 in July 1984; sold to Railtex in December 1986; to Austin & Northwestern 22 in February 1987.

DENVER CO Oct 20 1977 -- Union Pacific U30C 2942 awaits an assignment. GE built the unit (b/n 40947) in September 1976. It was traded to GE in 1987. (Roster information from http://utahrails.net/up-diesel-roster/up-diesel-roster-39.php#u30c-2810)

DENVER CO Oct 20 1977 -- Union Pacific SD40-2 3150 awaits an assignment under broken skies. EMD built theunit (b/n 7334-28) in February 1972. (Roster information from http://utahrails.net/up-diesel-roster/up-diesel-roster-45.php#)

WALSENBURG CO Oct 21 1977 -- A U30C leads a coal train. The unit was delivered July 1973 and retired April 1987.

SPRUCE CO Oct 21 1977 -- Rio Grande SD40T-2 5355 leads an empty coal train on the Joint Line between Larkspur and Monument. Web site utahrails.net reports, "D&RGW 5355 was renumbered to UP 4043 on 8 October 1999; renumbered to UP 8613 on 12 April 2000." UP retired the unit in 2008.

DENVER CO Oct 20 1977 -- In my opinion UP ruined a classicly styled GP30 when it was converted to a B unit.

PUEBLO CO Oct 21 1977 -- Rio Graode GP30 3015 rests in the sun waiting for its next assignient.

FORT COLLINS CO July 1978 -- Burlington Northern SD40-2 6808 rolls south down the middle of Mason Street. EMD built the 6808 (s/n 72639-9) in March 1973 it as BN 6348 before becoming the 6808. After the merger it became BN 6808 and after the BN-Santa Fe merger it became BNSF 6808. It was later renumbered BNSF 1681 and wears H1 paint. (Date of photo approximate, roster information from http://archive.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/SD40-2/INDEX.HTM, http://www.thedieselshop.us/BNSF.HTML, http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/72639.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_SD40-2)

DENVER CO July 2 1978 -- Rio Grande SW1000 143 handles switching duties at North Yard. EMD built the 143 (s/n 32178) in October 1966. It was retired by Southern Pacific on Oct 3 1991, went to Omnitrax in 1995 and then to Camas Prairie in 1998 as CSP 143. It was retired in 2004, went to IR and then to GFRR. (Roster information from http://www.drgw.net/info/SW1000, http://www.trainweb.org/rosters/CSP.html)

DENVER CO July 2 1978 -- According to DRGW.net SD9 5305 was built in July 1957. It was wrecked at Pueblo on April!26, 1972, and was rebuilt as a chop nose September 1972. It was assigned to Grand Junction hump duty after 1972. In 1996 it went to North Western Pacific. After a stay at Omnitrax it went uo Canon City & Royal Gorge (Royal Gorge Route) in June 2003.

AGUILAR CO July 4 1978 -- AN SD45 leads a string of locomotives south.

WALSENBURG CO July 4 1978 -- DRGW GP40 3085 and four other B truck locos smoke their way out of Walsenburg CO with a mixed freight in tow. Acording to www.drgw.net 3085 was, "Retired by UP 25-May-2001 To Wheeling & Lake Erie 3085 To W&LE GP40-3 303 in 2005."

Walsenburg CO July 4 1978 -- The crew is preparing DRGW GP40 3085 for its departure with a mixed freight in tow. Acording to www.drgw.net 3085 was. "Retired by UP 25-May-2001 To Wheeling & Lake Erie 3085 To W&LE GP40-3 303 in 2005."

LA JUNCTION CO Sept. 1977 -- Missouri Pacific 2023 leads a westbound freight at NA Junction where the Mop meets the AT&SF for the trip to Pueblo CO. Witthout the scanner we wouild have missed this train as we were concentrating on the Sahta Fe during this Sept. 1978 railfan trip. This location is west of La Junta CO.

HELPER UT Oct 5 1978 -- DRGW GP40-2 3097 is ready to lead a train out of Helper. According to www.drgw.net the unit was, "Patched UP 1352 on 30-Jul-2005."

MARTIN UT Oct 5 1978 -- Utah Railway RSD15 403 awaits its next assignment at the engine facility in Price. Information taken from utahrails.net indicates unit 403 was built as ATSF 9847 in June 1960. It was sold to Utah Railway on Oct. 28 1975 and was retired May 14 1982. It was sold for scrap in November 1983 to Industrial Salvage & Metals (Salt Lake City UT). It was scrapped in early January 1984.

PUEBLO CO Oct 6 1978 -- Rio Grande GP7 5108 is shown at the engine facility at Pueblo. EMD built the unit in June 1952 (s/n 14433). In 1984 it went to KYLE as 5108 then to Texas & Northern as 997. A VERY big thank you to Mr. Thomas Rousseau for pointing out I had incorrect information in this caption. I have corrected it and regret any inconvenience my error has caused anyone. (Roster information from http://www.drgw.net/info/GP7)

TENNESSEE PASS CO Oct 6 1978 -- A famous location with lots of photos taken. This is my version. Rio Grande SD40T-2 5342 takes the S curves on its way west. Web site drgw.net reports this unit was repainted to UP 2882 Sept 3 2001.

LA JUNTA CO June 17 1979 -- The La Junta engine facility was a great location to drive into and out of quickly while taking pictures of select subjects. A white hard hat was also useful. This shot was only a few steps from the car. SD39s were seldome seen in Oklahoma (where I lived at the time) so I enjpyed my trips to southern Kansas and southern Colorado. The SD39s were built in 1969 and rebuilt by Santa Fe in 1985 and 1986 as model SD39u.

PUEBLO CO June 15 1979 -- BN SD40-2 6798 departs Pueblo. The unit was delivered in November 1977, became BNSF 6794 and was retired in November 2008.

PUEBLO CO June 15 1979 -- Rio Grande SD9 5313 handles switching duties. The unit was built July 1957 an sold to National Railway Equipment Co. in November 1991 where it was scrapped.

PUEBLO CO June 15 1979 -- Missouri Pacific SD40 3002, SD40-2 3279, SD40-2 3277 and Union Pacific SD40-2 3153 haul the Ford Fast Train into Pueblo from the east.

LA JUNTA CO June 16 1979 -- A pair of ATSF 2D39s sit at the La Junta fuel racks. Unit 4016 was delivered as a Locotrol master.

MANZANOLA CO June 16 1979 -- Santa Fe B23-7 6369hauls a mixed freight under Colorado skies marked with contrails.

PUEBLO CO June 16 1979 -- BN U30C 5364 leads BN U30C 5368 and a Santa Fe caboose in the Pueblo yard. Unit 5360 was retired in September 1990. Unit 5368 was retired in December 1990.

DENVER CO June 16 1979 -- Burlington Northern SDP40 6397 awaits its next assignment. EMD built the unit (s/n 31595) for Great Northern as passenger unit GN 323 in May 1966 and delivered it in the simplified Empire Builder paint scheme. Upon creation of the BN it was renumbered 9853. On April 15 1974 it was renumbered BN 6397 and after creation of BNSF was renumbered 6325. On May 13 1975 it was repainted in a bicentennial scheme and renumbered 1976. It was painted back to BN green on Jan 14 1978. After retirement it was acquired by National Railway Equipment as NRE 6325 and then acquired by Alstom Canada Inc as GCFX 3093. (Roster information from http://www.greatnorthernempire.net/index2.htm?GNEGNDieselRosters.htm, and http://archive.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/SDP40/INDEX.HTM)

PUEBLO CO June 16 1979 -- BN F45 6638 awaits its next assignment at the yard in Pueblo. The unit was delivered in April 71 and retired in 1986.

GRANADA CO June 17 1979 -- ATSF GP39-2 3613 blasts thtough Granada with grain silos as a backdrop. Unit 3613 was sold to Portland & Western/Williamette & Pacific.

LAMAR CO June 17 1979 -- The well-maintained Lamar station hosts Santa Fe U28CG 7901 and Santa Fe U23C 7500. The U28CGs were delivered in passenger war bonnet and set up for use in both passenger and freight service. After Amtrak took over passenger operations on the Santa Fe the U28CGs lost their steam generators, were painted in freight colors and assigned to freight-only duties. They later were painted in the yellow bonnet scheme as seen here.

Las Animas CO June 17 1979 -- Rio Grande 5350 leads four other tunnel motors on an empty coal train as they pass under the U.S. 50. Pole lines! Ya gotta love em. Addorcing to www.drgw.net, "Repainted to SP 5350 during SP era--To UP 8609 14-Nov-2000--Retired by UP 27-Jun-2003.

PUEBLO CO July 16 1979 -- A BN U25C is ready to depart. The unit was delivered in April 1965 as Northern Pacific 2517. It was retired March 1981.

GRAND JUNCTION CO March 8 1980 -- The westbound Rio Grande Zephyr makes a station stop for servicing. Myself and three other railfans made the roundtrip journey and this was a wonderful opportunity get photos of the train. No one said a word to us.

TRINIDAD CO March 8 1980 -- On our way to ride the Rio Grande Zephyr we came across SP U33C 8325 in Trinidad and couldnt resist a night shot. We were ill-prepared though. This is the best of the lot.

HELPER UT March 9 1980 -- Rio Grande SD9 5309 and a caboose are shown in Helper in this shot taken from the Rio Grande Zephyr. Utahrails.net records the unit was built in July 1957 and retired Oct. 3 1991. It was sold to National Railway Equipment, Dixmoor IL, in November 1991.

GRAND JUNCTION CO March 9 1980 -- Workers service the Rio Grande Zephyr during its wastbound station stop. This was on my return trip to Denver. Our group consisted of four railfans and we had a great time.

GRAND JUNCTION CO March 9 1980 -- Workers service the Rio Grande Zephyr during its eastbound station stop. This was on my return trip to Denver. Our group consisted of four railfans.

ROCKY FORD CO March 11 1980 -- American Crystal Sugar Co. used F7A 64 as a switcher. According to Dons Depot, http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/index.htm, "564, F7A, was built by Electro-Motive in July 1949, #8358, as Denver & Rio Grande Western 564D, Class DE4(B-B)226. It was renumbered as 5644, Class DE4(B-B)226, in 1950 and rebuilt by Electro-Motive in 1957. It was reclassified Class B-B 60 in 1962 and retired on August 27, 1969. It was sold as American Crystal Sugar Co 64 in January 1970 and sold to Glen Monhart in 1980. It was painted as CMNR 564 and became WICT 901. It was repainted as Charleston & Western Carolina 901. Information seems to be lacking regarding the disposition." Note the "diesel fairy" on the fireman side and platform on engineer side.

LA JUNTA CO March 11 1980 -- Santa Fe SD39 (a locotrol master) leads a train on a partly cloudy day east of La Junta. Note multiple antennas on 4012 and exhaust smoke from midtrain slave units.

PUEBLO CO March 11 1980 -- An SD40-2 is all alone and posed for a picture as we drove by.

BUTTES CO March 11 1980 -- An SD 40-2 leads a coal train.

PUEBLO CO Mar 11 1980 -- GP30 3001 leads three other B truck units on their way south. The Santa Fe box car immediately behind the units must be a really fresh paint job.

BIG LIFT CO March 11 1980 -- Rio Grande SD40T-2 and four other tunnel motors lead a mixed freight. Information from http://myweb.msoe.edu/~westr/Tunnel Motors.htm indicates 5353 was built in October 1974, became SP 5353, then UP 4041, then UP 8611 and eventually sold to R.J. Corman railroad group.

DENVER CO March 10 1980 -- Burlington Northern (Colorado and Southern) SD9 6221 awaits an assignment. EMD built the 6221 (s/n 22409) in December 1956-January 1957 for the Burlington (Colorado and Southern) as CBQ (C&S) 826. It became BN (C&S) 826, BN 6221 and BNSF 6106. (Roster information from http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/22400.htm and http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/22400.htm)

PUEBLO CO Aug 23 1981-- Rio Grande GP7 5108 poses for a roster shot. Web Site drgw.net reports the unit was built in June 1952 and retired March 20 1984. It became KYLE 5108 in 1984 and went to Texas & Northern as no. 997.

CASTLE GATE UT Aug 9 1981 -- Im on my back to Oklahoma from vacation in Washington when I caught the Rio Grande Zephyr. Pardon the composition but please note the white over green Suburban in the background off the 5771s nose. In it my patient wife is reading a book while I take yet another train photo. To this day I am thankful for having an understanding wife. Thanks Marilyn.

THISTLE UT Aug 22 1981 -- Rio Grande GP30 3013 charges west at Thistle. This location was destroyed when a huge slide began on April 14, 1983 (http://utahrails.net/drgw/thistle-vanished.php). Web site utahrails.net reports this locomotive was built in May 1962 and retired in December 1993. It was was sold to OmniTRAX in August 1995.