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The US Supreme Court just issued a unanimous ruling that allows the construction of the Uinta Basin Railway in Utah. The goal is to get crude oil from Utah to the Gulf Coast. The former D&RGW Tennessee Pass would be the most direct route and keep the traffic on the Moffat Line while bypassing Denver. Couple this with the current Administration's push for American energy and reopening TP could be a real possibility for the first time. It was attempted several years ago which resulted in the lawsuits that just got overturned.
Yeah, it appears that they got a complete legal beatdown...
STB Chairman Patrick Fuchs hailed the ruling. “Over the years, some have sought to abuse NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) by unlawfully turning a procedural tool into an ideological weapon,” Fuchs said in a press release.
I'd say he pretty much hit the nail on the head with his statement.
I can’t believe reopening Tennessee Pass is economically feasible after all these years. How long to renovate and will the next administration agree coal is a good choice
It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next 3 years
I can’t believe reopening Tennessee Pass is economically feasible after all these years. How long to renovate and will the next administration agree coal is a good choice
It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next 3 years
I would think reopening TP would be an easy thing for UP. Small potatoes, actually. Now a third party??? They would need some real $$$ behind them. If the need is demonstrated, I could see UP getting on board pretty quick. Not sure what the Uinta Basin RR construction time frame will look like.
I can’t believe reopening Tennessee Pass is economically feasible after all these years. How long to renovate and will the next administration agree coal is a good choice
I don't think renovation of the actual line will be the biggest issue. The trackage was still in good shape last I drove it. PTC will be the bigger issue as this trackage was left idle long before that became a "thing". But to me running the trains is yet another issue. One of my friends was an engineer and always hated it when he pulled a turn over the pass. Really hard to keep westbound trains from running away.
Horseman wrote: "One of my friends was an engineer and always hated it when he pulled a turn over the pass. Really hard to keep westbound trains from running away."
I'm thinking that all the loaded trains would be eastbounds.
Is the grade easier going east/south ?
Westbounds would mostly be empty tanks.
Easier to keep a trainload of empties under control (but still work when the grade is 3%)...
Horseman wrote: "One of my friends was an engineer and always hated it when he pulled a turn over the pass. Really hard to keep westbound trains from running away."
I'm thinking that all the loaded trains would be eastbounds.
Is the grade easier going east/south ?
Westbounds would mostly be empty tanks.
Easier to keep a trainload of empties under control (but still work when the grade is 3%)...
Yes. Keep in mind the right side of this track chart is west, left side east. As you can see, trains coming from the west would have to climb at 3% from Red Cliff to the tunnel at the summit but the loaded train descent to Salida would have a max grade of around 1.5%.
Yes. Keep in mind the right side of this track chart is west, left side east. As you can see, trains coming from the west would have to climb at 3% from Red Cliff to the tunnel at the summit but the loaded train descent to Salida would have a max grade of around 1.5%.
