| Posted by Nikko P on December 16, 2006 | |
I don't know if anybody notice but about 3 or 4 feet after the point there is a third track that crosses both tracks and terminates about three feet to the left of the track going to the Dotsero Cutoff. The track crosses both the Royal Gorge and the Dotsero line but there is no point connecting them. Just to the right of the Royal Gorge line on this third track I am mentioning, there is also a railspeeder. Anybody know anything about this third track?
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I'll bet you that track is used for the MOW workers to get thier speeders onto and off the tracks...and without having to bother with the switch...
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And it is probably made with wood rails. Note there are no frogs. Such a way for speeders to get on to tracks was very common before hi-rail trucks which get on at grade crossings. This one is unusual in that it crosses two tracks. There might be a shed back there to roll the speeder into.
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You got it Marty. Indeed these are only set-off tracks for the pop-car; which is really cool by-the-way. This practice is still alive and well in Durango today. These set-offs are located about every mile on the D&S so that patrolmen can move their motorcars outta the way of trains if need be.
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Never seen Dotsero from this angle. That looks like quite a higher speed turnout, maybe a #20. What is the speed limit through here on that turnout?
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If my memory serves me well, the speed limit was 40 for that turnout.
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