by BlockLine_4111
Noticed an abandoned ROW in the area of US AFA along 25S somewhere between exits 157 and 156. What line was this and why was it abandoned? Any history or info appreciated.
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Monument, CO area - abandoned ROW
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by russp
What you saw was the abandoned ex-AT&SF grade of a portion of the Joint Line between Denver and Pueblo. The actual abandonment is between Kelker on the south side of C Spgs and Palmer Lake to the north. The line was abandoned 1n 1974. I don't know why, possibly excess capacity at the time. Freight trains now run in both directions on the UP (ex-D&RGW) between Palmer Lake and Kelker. This stretch of single track no doubt creates the long line of coal trains backed up in Denver heading south. The bi-directional Joint Line was created by the USRA in 1918 (first employee tt is dated 10/1/18) to expedite RG, C&S, AT&SF rail traffic in the Dever - Pueblo corridor. Prior to that, trains ran in both directions over their own lines (C&S / SF shared SF rails) which were often a stone's throw apart.
by wess
Railfan Magazine did an article on the joint line back in the seventies and it was mentioned that there had been several re-alignments over the years, not excess capacity, but to ease the gradient. I think there is still quite a bit of heavy grades out there and both SF and Rio Grande attempted to improve it somewhat
wess
wess
by TB Diamond
The line was abandoned at the behest of the city of Colorado Springs so that only one rather than two rail lines traversed the city on a north/south axis.