Some 5 – 1/2 years after the Union Pacific Merger
Thirteen years after the SP merger and well into UP’s tenure, one would hardly expect to find
a matched set of Rio Grande power at work. Yet that is precisely what we found on March 26th, 2002 at Rocky Flats: a trio of Grande GP40-2s handling the chores of the West Local. This local job operates from Denver’s North Yard, typically handling the switching on the Rocky Spur, which serves Rocky Aggregates and the AEC’s Rocky Flats facility (mostly closed down at that time). The spur departs the main line at the siding of Rocky, just west of Colo. 93 between Golden and Boulder.
On this date, we happened to pass by just as the train was returning to the main from the spur, and we observed some rather odd activity. At the time I was gathering images and material for my book, and this looked like an opportunity not to be missed. I ended up burning nearly a whole roll of slides. I’m posting all of them here with no selectivity, and only enough editing to make them more eye-friendly.
Note that you can click any of the images to see a MUCH larger version.
When we arrived at Rocky, the train’s cars were uphill from the spur junction with the main line, with the power on the east end. We watched the three locomotives heading east, having cut the cars off. But the cars were also rolling; the power came down the main, but the cars rolled up onto the spur and came to a stop as gravity equalized the grades. The power came down past the east switch in order to run around the cars. To this day I cannot postulate a reasonable explanation for all this. It looks like they failed to set enough brakes or something.
First the three locomotives approach the east end of Rocky siding (on the main track).
Second, they are just clear of the east switch. The units are 3128, 3121, and 3129.
The 3129 was one of two unique GP40s on the Grande. It and 3130 were built much later (1983) than the rest of the DRGW GP40-2s, as replacements for wrecked units. Note the squared-off blower housing behind the cab, unlike the rounded style on older units. The paint is also a tad more orange.
Fourth: Here are all three units skylined, viewed from below the grade. Taken as I was trying to stay out of the way (post 9-11 caution!); later I got brave enough to get some closer shots.
First: Here’s a close-up of the power. I sure wish they hadn’t parked in the shadow of that pole…
Second: The crew then headed the power up the siding to run around to the other end of the cars. They hooked on, pulled them off the spur, cut off, and ran past West Rocky and back down the siding to the east end.
Third and fourth, the power heads west up the siding.
Each time they changed directions, the crew would have to switch ends and move to the lead locomotive.
Here the power has returned east after running around the train again. Look closely in the third shot and you’ll see the conductor as he opens the door on the front of 3129.
Now the power has retrieved the train and is starting to move east. I’ve relocated a little further up for these last shots. It’s a really long train for a Rocky local– 21 cars.
Here the completed train rolls by on its way down to Denver. The first shot appeared in my book. Note the flag on the back of the last car; being a daylight run I guess it was ok to not use a FRED here.
Action Road 