A Union Pacific transfer passes Pueblo, Colorado’s Union Station as it brings a short train to the UP yard from the BNSF yard on March 9, 2020. Sadly, there haven’t been any passenger trains serving this Richardsonian Romanesque-style station since 1971. Constructed in 1889-1890, this station served passenger trains of the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe, Colorado & Southern (CB&Q), Denver & Rio Grande Western, Missouri Pacific and Rock Island railroads until Amtrak took over most passenger train operation on May 1, 1971, when the railroad south of Denver was left without any passenger service. (There has been some talk of establishing commuter train service along this line, possibly from Albuquerque NM< to Cheyenne WY but, frustratingly, it appears to have been about ten years since there was much activity regarding this proposed service.). The UP train is powered by UP GP40-2 1357 (ex-UP 5256, nee-DRGW 3102), GP40 1481 (ex-SP 7111, nee-BO 3734) and GP40 1502 (ex-SP 7124, nee-BO 3776). Of to the left of the station the modest collection of the Pueblo Railway Museum, which includes ATSF 4-8-4 2912 and DOTX U30C 001, along with an assortment of freight and passenger equipment.
