2 layers of track on the C&N

The first two photos were taken in Sunset on August 21, 2007. A local resident was having a septic tank installed, and the contractor exposed some evidence of the old rail lines. The top level appears to be ties from the Colorado & Northwestern (later Denver, Boulder and Western). These are a foot or two below the modern ground level. This would be from the back of the wye, near where it passed behind the Depot. A few feet lower, they found track (rail and ties). This must be from the original Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific (later Union Pacific, Denver & Gulf). This location is at the base of a small gulch which appears to have been the source of several landslides over the years. The GSL&P tracks may have been buried already when the C&N graded, or the C&N crews may have just buried them in the process of grading.

This first photo shows the exposed ends of ties, and some rail. The ties were much more evident in person. The photos were taken at dusk, so the light was poor. The hole was scheduled to be filled the next morning.


Another view of both levels


This ca. 1900 photo shows the approximate location of the excavation (in yellow)