A Yard Tale Pueblo,CO in Tales of the Jointed Track

  • Feb. 7, 2026, 3:37 a.m.
  • |
  • Public

The Olympic commercial. See the USA in your Chevrolet. A gal strumming a guitar on a high Butte. How did it get up there? Helicopter or AI dunno.
Well that triggered the old mind. On to the tale.

Pueblo,CO 1975-1979:

The railroads in and out of here are stressed for power, crews, and yard tracks.
We were held out of Pueblo yard , holding at 29th Street, and as far as 10 miles north at Bragdon , waiting to get into the yard. If coal load or empty, a run through, you had the main. The yarding freights, well, second class, until they were plugged.

I was waiting for a coal empty up the main, was around 130-200 pm at the time. They wanted us out of the way, and chisel the yard blockage.

Extra West out of La Junta:

This poor drag, finally was able to get yarded. 1) They have the Pueblo Sub blocked, and needed to clear. I’m sure there was a Missouri Pacific freight, either called East or yarding West that needed to move. 2). There is Santa Fe East tonnage needs to clear the yard. 3) C&S tonnage. South and North. Logistics and what you have on hand, so be it.

“ Power from the Extra West, Yardmaster Pueblo”. “Yardmaster”. “George? , How do you want this power to the Fuel Tracks?” “ By Helicopter, if possible!,”. LOL. yeah was that bad. They did get them back. .

Sand in the gears of the well oiled machine.


Last updated February 18, 2026


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