The rail yards in Minturn, Colorado have been quiet since 1997, which is the year that the Tennessee Pass line was shut down by the Union Pacific. The rail yards began in 1887 when the Denver and... (more)
SP361 west hustles thru Minturn after a crew change. The train is new Southern Pacific subsidiary CTRN coal hoppers. the cars were mostly used to haul coal to Tennessee Valley Authority.
SP 250 sits awaiting the next push at Minturn, Colorado. AC locomotives forever changed mountain railroading. The AC motors allowed for greater tractive effort, with no over heating.
Three Southern Pacific GP40-2 pull empty ballast train into Minturn for a crew change. Ballast trains for the pit at used 4 axle locomotives for the light and twisting trackage.
SP8255 heads west out of Minturn with 50 loads of Appalachian coking coal for Geneva Works in Utah. Norfolk Southern and Conrail visitors were common on these trains from the east.