1997

Union Pacific
Colorado (Coalmont Branch)
September 29, 1997




The Union Pacific's Coalmont Branch began life as the Laramie, North Park & Western and ran from Coalmont, in Colorado's Yampa Valley, to Laramie, Wyoming. Begun in 1903, it was owned by the Union Pacific for many years before being officially incorporated into UP on December 1, 1951, at which time it became known simply as the Coalmont Branch. By 1997 the line was in the process of abandonment, with most of the southern end completely gone and much of the rest weed-grown. Here we see the abandoned grade crossing with Colorado State Highway 127, just south of the Wyoming/Colorado border. It's late September and the aspens are turning a brilliant yellow.




This page posted 1/1/2019; revised 3/1/2019. Text and photo ©2019 Lamont Downs.