Rio Grande Pueblo Yard

Here's a view looking railroad south along the Rio Grande's Pueblo yard. The C&S/ATSF joint line is along the back of the benchwork. Above is the Rio Grande/AT&SF shared trackage to Canon City climbing a 2% grade to Florence.

Pueblo yard, C&S/AT&SF

A photo looking railroad-south at one end of the joint C&S/AT&SF Pueblo yard.

Pueblo D&RGW yard

Here's a view looking railroad-north of the D&RGW yard. The C&S/AT&SF main is on the left-hand side of the lower level. On the far left, the railroad to Tennesee Pass climbs along a narrow shelf to the Portland Cement Plant, visible in far background.

Walsenburg, Colorado

On the way to Trinidad staging loop, the last town encountered is Walsenbug. On the prototype, this was where the paired double track (with no signalling!) south of Pueblo, came to an end. Very unusual as it was operated right-handed with one main owned by Rio Grande, the other by C&S. At Walsenburg, the Rio Grande turns west for Veta Pass and Alamosa. There's a small yard here and plenty of small industries.

Walsenburg, view #2

My C&S train #72 waits in the clear as a northbound Santa Fe train rolls by on the main track from Trinidad.

Walsenburg, view #3

I'm still in the clear as a Rio Grande coal train rumbles by behind a single SD7.

CF&I Steel Mill

Dominant industry in Pueblo was the huge CF&I steel mill, at one time owned by General Palmer, who also owned the Rio Grande. A Santa Fe switcher works the steel mill in this view.

Two Decks

This view shows the two deck construction on the McBee layout. The layout is only partially double decked. On top, a Santa Fe RSD-4 switches the Portland Cement plant. Down below is the "north" end of Pueblo, near Bragdon where the famed Joint Track to Denver begins.

Bragdon Interlocking

Joint track (D&RGW and ATSF/C&S) to Denver begins at Bragdon. At this junction, trains are sorted to their respective mainlines for the trip through Pueblo. My C&S train departs the C&S mainline and heads for the northbound D&RGW mainline which I'll take to Denver Staging Loop.

On the Joint Line

The next train I operated was this Rio Grande freight, #61, seen crossing a bridge on its way from Denver Staging to Pueblo.

A "railfanning" photo

I couldn't resist stopping the train a few times and doing a little "railfanning" of this train curving through the nicely-done Front Range scenery.

Pueblo C&S Yard

An aisle-side view of the Pueblo C&S/AT&SF yard. On far right is the Pueblo Union Depot area.

Looking towards Walsenburg

The camera is perched atop the second deck near Portland cement on the Tenesee Pass line. Across the aisle is Walsenburg, and around the corner to the left is the stacked staging loops (Tennesee Pass on top, Denver in the middle, and Trinidad on the bottom).

At Florence mine

Rio Grande freight #61 arrives at Florence for a little switching. This is around the corner from the Portland Cement spur on the climb to Tennesee Pass. Across the aisle is Walsenburg on the lower leve.