Freight Operations

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ "Train 408" is the fourth episode of a new video series. This new series, "Train Operations on Santa Fe's Raton Subdivision", highlights freight train operations over Raton Pass. This episode highlights the journey of "Train 408", making its way eastbound across the Raton Subdivision. We first see Train 408 as it enters the yard limits of the Raton New Mexico railyard. The train is too heavy to continue over the Pass and must be Doubled or "split into two sections". The Second Section, (or rear half) of Train 408 will be stored in Track 1201, while all of the motive power is used to take the First Section over the Pass to Trinidad Colorado. Upon arrival in Trinidad the First Section will be stored on Track 0702, and the motive power will return to Raton for the Second Section and bring it to Trinidad. Be sure to Subscribe so you won't miss anything on Santa Fe's Raton Subdivision Model Railroad!

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ In the late 1960's the Santa Fe Railway needed new power. They shopped around with the major manufacturers of diesel locomotives and found that they were very expensive. They discovered that they could remanufacture their existing fleet of obsolete F7 locomotives and solve their motive power shortage for about 1/3 of what new power would cost. All of the F7's still available were converted to CF7's. (The "C" stands for "Converted") The work was done at Santa Fe's Cleburne Shops in Texas. The first F7 converted to CF7 was unit #2649 in February of 1970. This video highlights three of the CF7's. Units 2649, 2489 and 2496. All CF7's have 1,500 HP and only 2649 has dynamic brakes. The CF7's were a great success and very reliable for road and switching duties. CF7 2417 was the last CF7 manufactured at Cleburne in March of 1978.

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ The Santa Fe Railway's Blue Freight paint scheme is very handsome and reminds us of the Dress Blues that the military forces wear on special occasions. This video highlights two locomotives that have the Blue Freight paint scheme. The locomotive on the lead is GP20 1132, followed by GP30 1274. We think you will enjoy watching them work hard to take a mixed freight over Raton's steep grades on a beautiful day.

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ AT&SF Steam Locomotive 5000 was the most powerful steam locomotive the Santa Fe Railway had in terms of pulling ability. Her mighty power was used often as a helper to get other trains over the pass. This video shows what it would be like if Madame Queen was restored to steam operations and used to pull a modern mixed freight train over the pass. Raton Pass is so steep that not even the Madame Queen can go it alone!

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ Santa Fe's Barstow to La Junta (the BALJ) freight, passes over Raton Pass every day. On Santa Fe's Raton Subdivision Model Railroad, we duplicate this run in HO scale. Most of the time, it goes without a hitch. On March 4, 2023, this run was just getting started, when a tank car derailed and struck an industry close to the mainline. Although we weren't able to get the derailment accident on video, we did document the aftermath of the accident. Take a look at this unique video that shows one of our rare operating accidents on Santa Fe's Raton Pass Model Railroad.

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ AT&SF Steam Locomotive 2926 is the newest member of our Legacy Fleet. This is the first video featuring 2926 on this channel. We are celebrating the introduction of 2926 to Santa Fe's Raton Subdivision Model Railroad with this short video of 2926 double heading with 3751 on Raton Pass. You will see 3751 & 2926 battle the steep grades of Raton Pass and hear lots of "Stack Talk" as they lift the freight train upgrade, then you will hear the side rods clanking as the two engines drift downgrade on the New Mexico side of the pass.

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ Fred Theiss, frequent visitor to Santa Fe's Raton Subdivision Model Railroad, brings his Athearn Genesis AT&SF Red & Silver Warbonnet FP45's for a trial run on the steep grades and S-Curves of Raton Pass. We put them on the lead of Santa Fe's daily Barstow to La Junta (the BALJ) freight, so Fred can test his new locomotives. Come along with us as they take the BALJ over the pass.

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ SD24 and SD26 locomotives have short bodies. These short bodies combined with their six-axle trucks, make them look like they are on roller blades. Take a look at them in this video and see if you agree. We follow TRNLJ (Trinidad - La Junta) Yard Transfer from Starkville to the outskirts of Raton New Mexico.

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ "Extra 5058 Part 2" is the second episode of a new video series. This new series, "Train Operations on Santa Fe's Raton Subdivision", will highlight daily freight train operations over Raton Pass. The second episode continues the journey of "Extra 5058", as it climbs the steep grades of Raton Pass after leaving Raton New Mexico Eastbound for Trinidad Colorado. The crew must take the loaded freight train over the 3.5% ruling grades of Raton Pass. Most railroads try to never construct any track over 1 - 1.5% on their mainline. Raton's 3.5% ruling grade is the steepest railroad grade in the United States for a Class 1 railroad. The steep climb requires lots of HP, but the grade going down is just as steep and dangerous. Dynamic brakes must be fully functional on all units and train brakes must be working perfectly to safely descend the pass. The grades of Raton Pass are so treacherous for trains and crew that the Santa Fe Railway enforced a strict speed limit of 15 mph while ascending and descending the pass. Coupled with the speed restrictions within yard limits of Raton and Trinidad and you can see that nothing happens very fast on this dangerous district. At Trinidad, the freight cars added to Extra 5058 at Raton will be pulled off by local switchers and placed on the proper tracks. All the while, "Extra 5058" must stay out of the way of the high priority daily scheduled freight trains. This can be difficult because sometimes cars have to be left on the mainline during switching operations in Raton and Trinidad, and many times yard switchers must pull out of the yard onto the mainline to complete their switching chores. After switching chores are complete at Trinidad, Extra 5058 is ready to depart Trinidad. Originally scheduled to return to Raton after dropping off the set-out cars in Trinidad, Extra 5058 instead will continue to La Junta to collect more freight cars. Be sure to Subscribe so you won't miss future episodes of "Train Operations on Santa Fe's Raton Subdivision" when they are released.

Visit our store! https://santaferatonsub.square.site/ "Extra 5058" is the first episode of a new video series. This new series, "Train Operations on Santa Fe's Raton Subdivision", will highlight daily freight train operations over Raton Pass. The first episode highlights the journey of "Extra 5058", as it picks up and delivers freight cars between Raton New Mexico and Trinidad Colorado and returns to Raton after completing other assignments in the Subdivision. All the while, "Extra 5058" must stay out of the way of the high priority daily scheduled freight trains. This can be difficult because sometimes cars have to be left on the mainline during switching operations in Raton and Trinidad, and many times yard switchers must pull out of the yard onto the mainline to complete their switching chores. After switching chores are complete and Extra 5058 is ready to depart Raton for Trinidad, the crew must take the loaded freight train over the 3.5% ruling grades of Raton Pass. Most railroads try to never construct any track over 1 - 1.5% on their mainline. Raton's 3.5% ruling grade is the steepest railroad grade in the United States for a Class 1 railroad. The steep climb requires lots of HP, but the grade going down is just as steep and dangerous. Dynamic brakes must be fully functional on all units and train brakes must be working perfectly to safely descend the pass. The grades of Raton Pass are so treacherous for trains and crew that the Santa Fe Railway enforced a strict speed limit of 15 mph while ascending and descending the pass. Coupled with the speed restrictions within yard limits of Raton and Trinidad and you can see that nothing happens very fast on this dangerous district. Be sure to Subscribe so you won't miss "Extra 5058" when it is released.