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BNSF Buck Local makes its way back to the main after working a couple industries along Lafayette Branch. Leading an ex CB&Q GP30 which was rebuilt by BN in the late 80’s into a GP39E with the classic GP30 carbody.
BNSF R-PWR4251 (Longmont, CO - Lafayette, CO Turn)
BNSF 2745 GP39E
BNSF 2560 GP39-2
A northbound Denver-Laurel manifest approaches the 88th avenue grade crossing in Westminster. Cars and a single biker are stopped, waiting for the train to pass. In the distance, you can see Westminster Castle on the hill. Today, it contains Belleview College and Seminary.
©2025 ColoradoRailfan.com
The size of the wind mill blades that are transported by rail are actually quite massive. The engineering to transport them by rail is actually quite impressive. The infrastructure holding the blades is capable of shift on the flat cars to accommodate the train going through curves.
©2025 ColoradoRailfan.com
A southbound blade trade crosses over Upper Highland Ditch at the south end of Highland, right at milepost 49. For those that are fans of the Moffat, this location on the Front Range Sub is about the same distance from Denver as the east switch of East Portal. This spot on the Front Range Sub is just north of Longmont.
©2025 ColoradoRailfan.com
Crossing a wood trestle south of Farthing, Wyoming, is a southbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal train as it approaches Altus on the former Colorado & Southern main line between Cheyenne and Wendover on July 4, 1999.
A little over a month earlier, on August 22, 2024, cars that had been stored in the siding at Boulder rolled out on to the main track. A Southbound intermodal train struck the cars and derailed. BNSF 4272 was one of the units involved in the derailment, and the final piece of the equipment that has been waiting to be removed from the site. Today, BNSF worked with Hulcher to load the unit on a special flat car for transportation. The crew ran out of time, so the train was tied down in the siding for the night.
When learning of this special Amtrak run from Denver to Longmont on BNSF's Front Range Sub, I was hoping for a nice shot of the train backdropped by the flatirons. Alas, Mother Nature had other plans as a low ceiling of clouds completely obscured the mountains. With no flatirons visible, the special Amtrak move passes through Niwot along the Diagonal highway that connects Boulder and Longmont.
©2024 ColoradoRailfan.com
I must admit, Amtrak's new Phase 7 paint scheme is my personal favorite scheme since the Phase 3 scheme that reigned through the 1980s and much of the 1990s. All but 10 of the new ALC-42 Chargers will sport this new scheme. AMTK 174 is, as of the date of this picture, the only P42DC to receive the scheme. No idea if Amtrak plans to (eventually) repaint the entire P42 fleet.
©2024 ColoradoRailfan.com
Consider the status of many of the passengers onboard this special Amtrak move from Denver to Longmont, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Longmont police and BNSF police were present in Longmont to protect the people and chase away railfans that tried to make a move onto railroad property to get some pictures.
©2024 ColoradoRailfan.com
Amtrak's special Front Range train has arrived at its northern destination in Longmont. The city of Longmont shut down the intersection and grade crossing at Emery Street. The train came to a stop right across the street and the passengers on board, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis, de-boarded and went to a pub for a quick conversation.
©2024 ColoradoRailfan.com
It is not too often the opportunity comes up to get shots of Amtrak P42DCs and/or Amtrak Superliners passing by the Valmont power plant in Boulder on BNSF's Front Range Sub! Here, AMTK 169 is leading a special move from Longmont back to Denver.
©2024 ColoradoRailfan.com
There is quite a bit of interest from both Amtrak and the State of Colorado in trying to get some state-sponsored Amtrak trains running along the Front Range from Ft Collins to Pueblo. In a very rare move, the Winter Park Express equipment was repurposed for one day to take several key dignitaries on a trip from Denver to Longmont on the Front Range Sub. Included on the train were Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Amtrak President Roger Harris, among others. AMTK 174, sporting Amtrak's newest (Phase VII) paint scheme, was brought in from Chicago specifically for the special. Here, the train crosses Clear Creek just north of Utah Junction.
©2024 ColoradoRailfan.com
A southbound BNSF manifest, coming off of the Front Range Sub, crosses the UP Belt Industrial Lead at Utah Junction. A Warbonnet happens to be second out on the elephant-style manifest as it arrives in Denver. Note the slew of center beam flats UP has stored in the storage yard at North Yard.
©2023 ColoradoRailfan.com
Even though it may not be leading, it is always great to catch a Warbonnet on a train in 2023! BNSF 736 has actually stood the test of time pretty well, considering how faded some of the units now are. The unit came down on the Front Range Sub early this morning, second out.
©2023 ColoradoRailfan.com
BNSF 1003 leads the H-DENLAU on the Front Range Sub.
BNSF 1003 leads the H-DENLAU on the Front Range Sub.
The Longmont Switch heads back South after working Loveland and Fort Collins.
The Longmont Switch heads back South after working Loveland and Fort Collins.
The Longmont Switch heads back South after working Loveland and Fort Collins.