Hello..
Their schedule is usually:
Day shift: On at 6 am, two engines to Antonito to pick up and drop off cars, depending on what has come in, some fertilizer chemical cars along the way at Co-ops ( etc. ), some empty drop off and pickups at purlite plant, and return to Alamosa.
Depending on number of cars either another train has left for Monte Vista or the same train will make the run. The Monte Vista run may drop off chemical cars on the way over, drop off cars with the SLC at Suger Junction, on to Monte Vista to Coors Plant to pick up grain and drop off empties, on the way back pick up cars from the SLC ( San Luis Central ) and on to Alamosa, there if time allows will put the train together for the trip over the hill that night.
Night Shift: On at 4:30 PM, get the train together using 5 engines and usually out of the yard by 5:30, first part of the run is at 25 mph then down to 10 mph over the Pass. Into Walsenburg at about 10 pm, drop off loads, pick up from UP, then start back. Arrive into Alamosa at 3:30 to 4:30 Am..
Drop off train in yard east of town, park engines at in town yard.
Usually they have a few days a week the train is maxed out on loads and once in a while they need to do a Saturday train. 30 up to 70 cars are not unusual. With the longer days you may catch the train on the west side before it gets dark.
Track condition is a major problem area, it should be upgraded but not in the plans now. Winter snow and spring rock falls are another problem.
Last winter they had a run-away train that piled up a bunch of cars but the engines and several cars made it through ok.. No one hurt...
Rich...
