For persons who have been part of the railroad scene since, say 1960, there are many changes occurring to our industry that are displeasing to us. On a recent trip to New Mexico ski country I saw some very pleasing changes to offset some of our disappointments:
The BNSF has retaken control operations on the line between Clovis and Loving, NM. New yards and large sidings have been added along the line below Carlsbad, NM to serve hydraulic fracturing sand storage facilities. These are large circular sidings that hold entire trains.
The completion of Two Main Tracks west of Vaughn, NM on "the transcon" has certainly changed the looks of that area.
Having not been to Santa Fe, NM in quite some time I was surprised to see the dramatic changes caused by the NM Rail Runner. i.e. CTC sidings, signals, and immaculate track in the town of Santa Fe.
These were brief observations as we drove northward from home...sorry, no pictures to accompany.
It's not all gloomy news out there!
