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UP PHOTO SPECIAL ON THE MOFFAT
Posted Tuesday, July 31 2001 at 1843 h MDT
There will be a UP Photo Special operating on the Moffat line on Thursday, 2-August-2001. Two UP SD70Ms are being hand-washed at Burnham for the assignment. At the moment, I don't know much more, but will post anything new I happen to learn. Thanks to MMM over on Trainorders and John Bromley (of UPRR fame) for confirming it. Oh yes, and one of the SD70Ms in question is UP 4303. - NDHolmes
SERVICE OUTAGE
Posted Tuesday, July 31 2001 at 1804 h MDT
Sometime in the next couple days, DRGW.NET will probably be offline for an hour or so while I switch over which ISP services my line. My current ISP is getting out of the DSL business (and I expect them to go under entirely within a year), and I've decided to make the switch sooner rather than later. My apologies, but hopefully this will all go very smoothly and it won't be much of a problem. - NDHolmes
D&RGW TELETYPE OPERATORS MANUAL POSTED
Posted Monday, July 30 2001 at 2333 h MDT
While not "news" in the strictest sense of the word, I've finally managed to get back to scanning some of the mountain of D&RGW documents I've acquired. The most recent of which is a 1967 manual describing the operation of the automatic teletype switching system. It's about 70 pages, but because most of it is typewritten on good quality paper, it scanned reasonably well. The web version is available over in the Misc Documents part of the D&RGW Information section. As usual, I keep all the original high-resolution scans, and if anyone is interested I'll (probably) make them available on CD in exchange for you making a small donation to some D&RGW-related museum or some such (C&TS, CRRM, etc). Just an idea I'm kicking around right now. - NDHolmes
MDVRO-28 RUNS WITH DISTRIBUTED POWER
Posted Monday, July 30 2001 at 1116 h MDT
Apparently M-DVRO-28 came over Soldier Summit and down into the Salt Lake valley on Sunday (28-July-2001) with UP SD9043MAC #8047, an SP AC4400 and DRGW 5371 on the point, and a pair of UP C40-8 DPU units pushing on the back. Previously, various methods have been employed to get the daily manifests over Soldier, including the helpers out of Helper, UT, and leaving some of the tonnage in Helper for the DPU-powered Dirt Train to haul back over to SLC. The introduction of DPU on these manifests is a new strategy, and may be a new sign that the end of tunnel motors in Helper is near. Thanks to Jim Belmont for posting this one to the DRGW list. Glad I went out last weekend, but if you haven't been lately, you might want to consider getting out there. - NDHolmes
MORE D&RGW INFO ONLINE
Posted Saturday, July 28 2001 at 0004 h MDT
Scott Meier's excellent website, the iD&RGW Online Archive has grown quite a bit lately, with the addition of many more scanned D&RGW documents, such as Maintenance of Way books, Equipment Summaries, and Freight Schedules. I'd encourage anyone interested to go take a look - some of this stuff is downright fascinating, especially for modellers. - NDHolmes
TWO MORE REPAINTED
Posted Friday, July 27 2001 at 1737 h MDT
DRGW 5502 was admitted to the Fort Worth shops on 24-July-2001, and emerged as UP 5096. SP 5399 (ex-DRGW 5399) was also patched, but at North Little Rock, AR, and to UP 8592. DRGW 5508 and 5501 are also likely receiving a little yellow paint, as they entered North Little Rock about the same time but so far hasn't come out. Assuming 5508 and 5501 are being painted or patched, that leaves us with only 4 black and gold SD50s, and I have a feeling they'll be patched soon. Get those shots now! - NDHolmes
HELPER TRIP REPORT POSTED
Posted Thursday, July 26 2001 at 2339 h MDT
Finally, I've gotten the trip report posted for last weekend's trip to see the Montrose and Potash locals, as well as the action in and around Helper, UT. Of particular interest are DRGW 5361 leading the Potash local in eastern Utah, Utah Rwy's new MK5000Cs and ex-Australian SD50s, and the Dirt Rrain on a beautiful Saturday morning, pulled by DRGW 5377, 5371, and 5390. The report can be found over here. - NDHolmes
FOUR T-2s IN HELPER, 5361 HEADED THAT WAY
Posted Thursday, July 19 2001 at 0621 h MDT
Thanks to Jim H. for pointing this out, but there are now four D&RGW tunnel motors back in Helper, UT - 5371, 5377, 5390, and 5401. In addition, 5361 went west on yesterday's MDVRO, so it too may get dropped at Helper. Because of this, I've had a bit of a change of plans this weekend - I'll be leaving for Grand Junction after work tonight, and will probably get to Helper Friday afternoon sometime, depending on what goes out as far as locals from GJ tomorrow morning. If anyone out there happens to see a grey Yukon with Colorado plates, stop and say hello. - NDHolmes
DERAILMENT UPDATE
Posted Wednesday, July 18 2001 at 0828 h MDT
It really is out on the North Fork sub - just a few miles south of Grand Junction on the old mainline, evidently. Nineteen cars came off the rails sometime around noon yesterday (Tuesday, 17-July-2001). More as I learn it. - NDHolmes
ONE ON THE GROUND ON THE NORTH FORK
Posted Tuesday, July 17 2001 at 1651 h MDT
Bruce from Silt, CO, just noted to the list that he'd heard the DS mention 18-19 cars on the ground somewhere along the Moffat (missed the location). I'm assuming it's east of Glenwood Springs, as the DS was asking the BNSF local job at Glenwood when he'd be in the clear for a wreck train coming through (which, I assume, is coming from Grand Junction). If anyone knows more, please let me know. Update (1900h - 7/17): It passed through Glenwood westbound at 1740h. One of the two units is SP 9733, and the train also contains the side-boom crane from Bond and some gons full of crosstie bits. Thanks to Tom M. on the D&RGW list for posting this bit. Yes, folks, this means the derailment is west of Glenwood. The latest trace for 9733 is to Delta, CO - could it be the derailment is actually on the North Fork line? - NDHolmes
RRRR AND CCRG AT IT AGAIN
Posted Tuesday, July 17 2001 at 1136 h MDT
Seems like railroads in the Royal Gorge just can't get along - from the early days with ATSF and DRGW to the modern era with UP, CCRG, and RRRR. Note the article near the bottom of today's Railroad News Network (aka Altamont Press) news page. - NDHolmes
NEW TRIP REPORT - SORT OF
Posted Monday, July 16 2001 at 2222 h MDT
It's not really any specific trip, but rather some decent photos from the past two weeks all lumped together to make another Photo Trip Report. Included are the South Local out of Denver, an MDVPU with two tunnel motors up front, and various bits from the Moffat between Denver and the Tunnel. As usual, it can be found over on the Trip Reports page. Enjoy! - NDHolmes
SKI TRAIN CAR FIRE
Posted Friday, July 13 2001 at 0813 h MDT
From this thread over at Trainorders, it appears that one of the Ski Train cars has suffered damage from an electrical fire on 13-July-2001. The affected car will be set out and service will continue as normal this weekend. However with tomorrow being the Winter Park Jazz Festival (where one might see me tomorrow, maybe), this might make things a bit more crowded on the train. - NDHolmes
DRGW 3060 & 3097 OPERATING TOGETHER
Posted Thursday, July 12 2001 at 0958 h MDT
DRGW 3060 and 3097 are operating as a pair out of LaSalle, CO, at the moment. Nobody has any idea how long they'll stayed coupled together, but at the moment you can still see an all-D&RGW GP-powered train out of LaSalle. Administrative News (1000h - 12-July): We experienced about a three hour outage last night and a two hour outage this morning due to my ISP installing new Ciscos and leaving my subnet out of the routing tables. Oops. - NDHolmes
DRGW T-2 5390 HEADED WEST ON MDVRO-10
Posted Tuesday, July 10 2001 at 2152 h MDT
After being released yesterday from being worked on at Burnham, DRGW 5390 is back on the road and headed west on tonight's MDVRO. Pulling out of North Yard in Denver around 2030h on Tuesday, it should cross most of Utah in the light tomorrow, so heads up to everyone out west with a little spare time. Bear in mind I have no idea where it is in the consist, however - for all I know, it could be trailing. Update (0800h - 7/11): Nope, it's not trailing - it's LEADING - and it just passed Glenwood Springs, CO, at 0632h. Very slow run so far - I'd strongly recommend anyone who can get out and see it today. - NDHolmes
MOFFAT TUNNEL DPU TROUBLES AND OTHER WOES
Posted Tuesday, July 10 2001 at 2150 h MDT
Various individuals on the D&RGW list today have mentioned problems with the Moffat Tunnel's radio system. Apparently due to repeater failure on Friday, 6-July-2001, DPU units can't maintain communication with the lead units. Thus, Union Pacific has stopped sending eastbound loaded coal trains through the tunnel, though manifests and westbound empties (as well as Amtrak) continue to operate. Yesterday (Monday), 17 trains passed through the tunnel, down from the usual mid-to-high twenties. Also, it should be noted that a heat restriction remains in place over the Moffat Tunnel sub due to the high temperatures around here lately. Thanks to everyone who provided bits of information on this one. - NDHolmes
UP's FINAL MERGER REPORT TO THE STB AVAILABLE
Posted Thursday, July 5 2001 at 1926 h MDT
John Bromley (UP Public Relations) just pointed out over on Trainorders that the final report and other documents from Union Pacific to the Surface Transportation Board is now available online. It's a very interesting and sobering read on just what kind of shape SP was in before the merger. - NDHolmes
CONFIRMED - DRGW 5373 IS A PATCH JOB
Posted Wednesday, July 4 2001 at 1932 h MDT
Back on 27-June-2001, I reported that 5373 had been changed over to UP 8628 at North Little Rock, AR, but I didn't have any confirmation that it actually was just a patch job. Thankfully, David B., a reader from New Orleans, was kind enough to send me three photos of 5373 switching MAVBT together in Avondale Yard. (Photos #1, #2, & #3) Many thanks, David, I really appreciate the effort, as I'm sure do many of the others who follow this site. - NDHolmes
NEW D&RGW COAL HOPPERS
Posted Tuesday, July 3 2001 at 0819 h MDT
At least three coal hoppers have been repainted by Union Pacific with at least two different colorful Rio Grande heralds - the "Action Road" logo and the "Main Line of the Rockies" logo. The cars known so far are DRGW 16445, DRGW 12821, and DRGW 12272. Thanks to a thread over on Trainorders.com for pointing this one out. I should also note that 12272 is headed to Somerset, CO, later this week via Salt Lake City and Soldier Summit. As of right now, it's in Rawlins, WY, and travelling west. - NDHolmes
ANOTHER GP40 GONE
Posted Sunday, July 1 2001 at 2029 h MDT
DRGW 3084 has been shut down and placed in the dead line at Burnham, along with the nine other Rio Grandes already sitting there. Things are accelerating now, so get those photos. - NDHolmes
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