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Speed Limits - Pine Bluffs to Laramie
Maximum Speed for Freight Trains Unless Noted - 70MPH
- MP462.8 - 463.0 - 65MPH
- MP486.2 - 486.5 - 60MPH
- MP493.7 - 494.0 - 60MPH
- MP497.7 - 498.2 - 60MPH
- MP502.2 - 503.0 - 50MPH
- MP506.3 - 508.3 - 40MPH (Track #3)
- MP508.3 - 510.5 - 35MPH
- MP510.5 - 511.8 - 40MPH
- MP508.3 - 545.5 - 55MPH (Tracks #1 & #2) - to Dale Junction
- MP515.5 - 515.8 - 55MPH
- MP522.1 - 525.6 - 45MPH
- MP528.6 - 529.0 - 55MPH
- MP530.0 - 532.1 - 45MPH
- MP536.6 - 537.6 - 55MPH (Track #2 only)
- MP537.9 - 540.4 - 40MPH
- MP540.4 - 544.1 - 45MPH (Track #2 only)
- MPC511.8 - C555.1 - 50MPH (Track #3) - to Dale Junction
- MPC553.5 C555.1 - 40MPH
- Siding -
- CPW528 - CPW530 - 20MPH
- MP545.5 - 565.4 - 40MPH (Tracks #1 & #2) - to Laramie
- MPB547.3 - B565.4 - 60MPH (Track #3) - to Laramie
- MPB547.3 - B549.0 - 40MPH
- MPB549.8 - B550.1 - 60MPH
- Siding -
- CPW564 - CPW570 - 40MPH
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Notes About this Part of the UP
- Cheyenne to Laramie is railroading at its finest. It is also a good spot to railfan. From North Platte to Green River, the Union Pacific must funnel its westbound traffic, originating in places like Chicago, St. Louis, and Memphis to name a few, and also funnel high-priority intermodal trains and manifests from western cities like Seattle, Oakland, and Los Angeles, over 500 miles of double track. This task would be a lot easier if it was not for the grades of Sherman Hill. All traffic, eastbound or westbound, must fight the hill, and sometimes the trains almost have to fight to make it up the hill.
- Leaving Cheyenne heading east, westbound have two choices, to battle the grade up Tracks 1 and 2, or to diverge and take the longer, but less intensive Track 3 and 4 to Dale Junction. Heavy manifest, grain trains, and heavy intermodal trains take Track three, avoiding the grade somewhat. High-priority van trains, empty soda ash trains, and any other train able to make the climb take the shorter route via Tracks 1 and 2. After crossing the summit and passing through the Hermosa Tunnels located at MP546, westbounds can descend the grade into Laramie two ways, via Track 1 and 2, limited to 40MPH, or slipping over to Track 3 and cruising into Laramie at 60MPH. Most high-priority intermodal trains and Amtrak scoot down the quicker route via Track 3, but this is not always the case.
- Eastbounds leaving Laramie, except in rare cases, have only one choice, to tackle the grade of Tracks 1 and 2. It is a steady grade all the way up to the tunnels and past Dale Junction. Heavy unit soda ash trains, coal trains from the mines near Hanna, Wyoming, and long manifests struggle coming out of Laramie and for most of the trip up Sherman. On rare occasions, light intermodal trains or Amtrak will depart Laramie and head up the steeper Track 3 route toward the tunnels.
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Trains Through Laramie
- Since my official railfanning location is Laramie, I have a fairly good
knowledge of the activity that runs through Laramie. Of course, most of the
UP's traffic flows through Laramie, like intermodal trains, Grain trains
bound for the western ports, some coal from the mines around Hanna, the
always interesting Soda Ash trains from the Green River area, plus a hearty
diet of Manifests from North Platte headed west, and their counterparts.
Oh, don't forget those Autorack trains, bringing new cars to us all.
So, how do you identify these trains, well, some luck goes into it, but
you can start to see patterns if you are around the RR long enough.
This list should help you identify any trains
you see on this part of the UP if you are interested in this area of railfanning.
Also, a map of the Laramie Yard is available for your viewing pleasure,
with a description and diagram of the tracks in the yard.
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