A Trip to Albuquerque – Jan 2002

Since I was on my way to Albuquerque for Jan 12-13, 2002, anyway, I thought I’d do a bit of railfanning while I was on the way. DRGW 3105 was assigned to the MPUAA and MAAPU (Pueblo-Alamosa manifests), so I decided to head up to Alamosa on Thursday night. I realized it was a bit of a long shot, but just on the off chance it was assigned to one of the two local trains I thought it would be worth the trip. I left Colorado Springs late Friday night, arriving in Alamosa just in time to sleep for about seven hours and wake up to catch the incoming train as it arrived in the pre-dawn hours. Sure enough, 0600h came and so did MPUAA-11. As it turned out, 3105 sat in Alamosa all day, but the fog and frost filling the San Luis Valley still made for an enjoyable morning with the Alamosa-Antonito local – even if the temperatures were hovering just below zero most of the time and it was being pulled by a pair of UP geeps.

I arrived in Albuquerque later on 11-Jan, and after checking into the hotel, I decided to head out again to search Belen for decent photo locations. In the process, I managed to catch some of the fast BNSF action moving in and out of this town. Z trains, mixeds, locals, coal drags – this place has everything. I still don’t know the place well enough to make suggestions, but I did manage a few decent photographs out of the experience.

On the morning of 12-Jan (before the wedding at 1600h), Union Pacific’s Olympic Torch Relay train would be coming east from Amarillo, TX, through Belen, NM, and into Albuquerque. I’d seen 2002 out on test runs in Iowa over Christmas, but I’d hoped to catch the full train at some point. With a little luck, good weather, and good timing, I managed to catch up with it just outside Belen and follow it in to Albuquerque, arriving back in town just in time to throw on some decent clothes and head off to my real reason for travelling.

Driving home on 13-Jan-2002, I followed the BNSF line from Albuquerque up to Trinidad, CO. I have to say it was busier than I’d ever seen the line – one mixed, one TOFC intermodal, and Amtrak, all in the same morning. At Trinidad, I took a side trip to check on the Trinidad Western – the line heading west to coal mines out of Trinidad – and found that recent commentary was right. The line was once again being operated to serve the recently reactivated coal mine near the end. By the time I reached Walsenburg and rejoined I-25, the light was failing, but I still managed to catch one more train. A fun, fast-paced glimpse at railroading in northern and central New Mexico.

There’s not a whole lot of dialog to go with this one – there’s just much to say except “found train, followed train.” I thought I’d just leave you to the photos. Enjoy!

Antonito Local – Jan 11, 2002

Arriving in Alamosa, the crew cuts off the power and brings it into town at about 0600h.

SSW 7286 and the rest of the power sitting in the early morning fog, with only the headlights of passing cars for illumination

Much later in the morning, DRGW 3105 leads the set that will remain behind.

UP 5517 and 2567 have been cut off and wait for the crew to complete their paperwork before beginning their shift.

Coming back from the yard with the cut for Antonito, CO.

All I could think when I was taking this shot was "Should have taken the Grande instead of this smoker.." — All I could think when I was taking this shot was “Should have taken the Grande instead of this smoker..”

A little sunlight breaks through the fog and the frost of 11-Jan-2002. I think it was about -2 degrees Fahrenheit at this point.

Well, some of its fog, anyway - 2567 is certainly doing its part to contribute, though. — Well, some of its fog, anyway – 2567 is certainly doing its part to contribute, though.

Passing by the old depot in La Jara on the way to Antonito (now the town hall).

I couldn't decide which shot I liked better between 9 and 10, so I included both. — I couldn’t decide which shot I liked better between 9 and 10, so I included both.

Crossing one of those classic old Rio Grande truss bridges just north of Antonito.

Finally at the end of the line, UP 2567 and crew undertake switching the plant.

Cumbres & Toltec's only diesel, the 19, sits outside the shops in Antonito. — Cumbres & Toltec’s only diesel, the 19, sits outside the shops in Antonito.

Just another oddball shot of the bridge, standing in the gauge (erhm, that's usually a bad idea) — Just another oddball shot of the bridge, standing in the gauge (erhm, that’s usually a bad idea)

Just stopping to admire the mountains once the fog had cleared at Romeo, CO. Not everything revolves around trains, you know... — Just stopping to admire the mountains once the fog had cleared at Romeo, CO. Not everything revolves around trains, you know…

The UP Olympic Torch Train – Jan 12, 2002

First sighting of the Olympic Torch Train. I'd intended to meet it at Vaughn, but at 0500h I couldn't bring myself to get out of bed. Instead, I caught it about halfway between Becker, NM, and Belen. — First sighting of the Olympic Torch Train. I’d intended to meet it at Vaughn, but at 0500h I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed. Instead, I caught it about halfway between Becker, NM, and Belen.

And the one car we've all been waiting for... The flame itself was taken off the train in Vaughn, and was being run through the day to meet the train again at the station in Albuquerque. — And the one car we’ve all been waiting for… The flame itself was taken off the train in Vaughn, and was being run through the day to meet the train again at the station in Albuquerque.

Coming down the hill into Belen, at much greater speed than a few minutes prior

After a short stop in Belen, NM, the train headed north towards Albuquerque. Have I mentioned how hard it is to shoot a northbound train in the winter?

Approaching the junction at Isleta, NM. Again, comments about northbound trains with southern sunlight (winter) apply... — Approaching the junction at Isleta, NM. Again, comments about northbound trains with southern sunlight (winter) apply…

Up and over the hump, awaiting the highball.

Protecting the rear of the train as it's backed around the wye in Albuquerque. The train needed to be wyed as it came in from the south, and would also be departing to the south. — Protecting the rear of the train as it’s backed around the wye in Albuquerque. The train needed to be wyed as it came in from the south, and would also be departing to the south.

My favorite shot of the entire trip - almost done backing. — My favorite shot of the entire trip – almost done backing.

Now into the roster shots of the cars, with Feather River - UPP 114 — Now into the roster shots of the cars, with Feather River – UPP 114

UP 2001, the other locomotive that we never see... — UP 2001, the other locomotive that we never see…

The torch car brings up the rear, playing the Olympic theme as the train leaves Belen

One last look, sitting at Albuquerque's passenger terminal. — One last look, sitting at Albuquerque’s passenger terminal.

Miscellaneous Trains Down and Back

After checking into my hotel, I decided to go have a look around Belen, NM. This westbound was shot from the NM 307 crossing just southeast of town.

With the evening light fading rather quickly, I managed to catch this rather hot Z train working east a few minutes later.

Headed back towards the freeway and Albuquerque, I found this train waiting to come through the junction and into the yard in Belen.

The first catch of the day on Sunday, 13-Jan-2002. BNSF 4664 leads a mixed just east of Glorieta at Belden, NM.

Amtrak 160 and three other "Shamu" Genesis units lead 7 Superliners and a sizable number of express freight cars through the signals at Levy, NM. Unfortunately the semaphores on this end are no more, but the other end of the siding still has them. — Amtrak 160 and three other “Shamu” Genesis units lead 7 Superliners and a sizable number of express freight cars through the signals at Levy, NM. Unfortunately the semaphores on this end are no more, but the other end of the siding still has them.

BNSF 4660, leading a hotshot TOFC train north at Levy, NM, takes the siding during a dust storm for Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief (visible departing on the mainline). — BNSF 4660, leading a hotshot TOFC train north at Levy, NM, takes the siding during a dust storm for Amtrak’s westbound Southwest Chief (visible departing on the mainline).

EMD 9089 and 9042 idle with a rail train at Trinidad, CO.

EMD 6309 and NREX 2033 sit under the loadout at West Elk, CO, on the Trinidad Western. Recently reactivated, this line has been dormant for many months while the mines were closed. Just proof that they really are loading coal again.

EMD 9047 leads a southbound loaded coal train off the Joint Line at Walsenburg and on to BNSF trackage.

Final Frame - a BNSF coal train climbs returns to home rails and climbs south out of Walsenburg, CO, in the late afternoon hours of 13-Jan-2002. — Final Frame – a BNSF coal train climbs returns to home rails and climbs south out of Walsenburg, CO, in the late afternoon hours of 13-Jan-2002.

This work is copyright 2022 by Nathan D. Holmes, but all text and images are licensed and reusable under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. Basically you’re welcome to use any of this as long as it’s not for commercial purposes, you credit me as the source, and you share any derivative works under the same license. I’d encourage others to consider similar licenses for their works.