Re: Silica Branch Operations

Posted by Jeff Young on Apr 28, 2019; 10:40am
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Silica-Branch-Operations-tp13847p13850.html

There were no facilities for turning engines at the end of the Silica branch, so whatever way they went in they'd have to come out.

The Silica branch remained in operation for 4 years or so after the Platte Canon line was abandoned.  Most of the pictures I've seen come from this period.  They all show the engines facing Waterton, suggesting that was SOP at least at this date.  My assumption would be that the Waterton wye was still in use as it doesn't seem likely that they'd have backed all the way out from Denver.  But that's just an assumption.

Before that date, were Silica trains "specials", or was the standard through-train sent on a side excursion (similar to the way Keystone was handled)?