Tribute to Tennessee Pass DVD

Tribute to Tennessee Pass (DVD Video)

Esteemed for its scenic beauty and respected for the difficulty of its terrain, Tennessee Pass has been a magnet, drawing railfans and photographers to Colorado's mountains for years. When word spread that Union Pacific was closing the pass in 1997, interest climbed to an all-time high. Along with visitors from throughout the world, Pentrex traveled to this revered line to document its final months of operation. Our efforts were rewarded with a high volume of movements and an outstanding mix of trains.

The grit of heavy-haul railroading is an awesome sight. Coal trains slug it out on the 3 percent grade leading to the 10,000-foot summit. Colorado's highest snow-capped mountains loom over toiling freights. Squealing flanges echo off canyon walls as trains grind through serpentine curves, and past the raging waters of the Arkansas River. Helper engines are viewed assisting trains over the mountain. Up to nine of UP's newest AC-powered giants are needed to lug tonnage across the pass. It's this type of intense action and spectacular scenery that made the line so idolized. Join with us as we pay tribute to Union Pacific's Tennessee Pass Subdivision!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• pentrex
• sp
• bnsf
• up
• tennessee
• pass
• trains
• railroad
• tunnel
• colorado
• railfans
• arkansas
• river

[msk578]

@wackymac28 The line is still there and it's known as "inactive" by UP. If they abandoned it, the rails and all the signals would have been removed a long time ago. They inactivated the line as it became too costly so they run all the trains through Moffat Tunnel, through Denver, south along I-25 into Pueblo. I think it just offsets the costs by having trains go out of the way and clogging up traffic on the Moffat Sub. One of these years I hope they reactivate it again.

[ritagrammy]

I grew up here....played in that tunnel as a child...

[wackymac28]

why did they strip this rail line its so cool.

[Espee9180]

@hobbeekid

Rails still in place, signals have been stripped by people stealing the wiring, lights, etc. UP runs a high-rail truck every now and again. A few years ago they built a new bridge over a road in the Vale/Minturn area. UP wanted to store fright cars in the Minturn yard but people protested.

[hobbeekid]

What is the state of Tennessee pass now? are the rails still in place?

[seankolker]

i was able to railfan this back in 1994 and 1995 (even though I am a BN fan,I`m glad I did.

[rockguitarist946]

man, why do all the scenic routes have to be closed for the sake of a few dollars? is that all anyone cares about anymore? what the hell is this country coming to?!?!

[Intransitman]

Though the line does cut distance.

[TheMadNorsky]

Economics. 3% grade track, fuel costs for tonnage hauled.  Both Tennessee Pass and Moffat Tunnel routes end up at the same point in western Colorado, UP chose to use the route which cost the least to operate. Now, with railroad economies even worse, it will likely never be reopened.

[ThomasRivette]

I don't understand why it was closed.