Grand Junction Industry Trackage – part 5

: ZTS 728 Team Track
: ZTS 041 Depot #1 Track leased to BNSF

Here are some of the Rio Grande original facilities remained along its route in Colorado; industry trackage at Grand Junction.
　　
　　
As of Dec. 4, 2018, Trains News Wire, the introducing of Precision Scheduled Railroading at Union Pacific will be implemented by the middle of 2019. It is already announced that MNYRO/MRONY was switched to tri-weekly MNYGJ/MGJNY since Dec. 2018. These may bring some changes to the local traffic at Grand Junction and its vicinity. Here, I represent my record of the local traffic at Grand Junction and its vicinity as of summer 2017.


There was industry trackage diverting from the main track at the depot. The trackage parallels South Ave once extended east to S 6th St, drew a semicircle toward the south and merged into another industry trackage paralleled the main, making a kind of balloon track, commonly known as the "circle track", surrounding the downtown industrial district[1].

: ZTS 729 and Central Distributing Co. warehouse
: ZTS 729 and LEWCO Warehouse Co. warehouse

The industry trackage parallels South Ave still remains as far as to S 5th St. This portion of the "circle track" served the businesses until the 80s[2]. Along the industry trackage, two warehouses within the downtown industrial district retains loading gates facing the track.

Warehouse on South Ave occupied by Central Distributing Co. (2001 Union Pacific Zone-Track-Spot 729, Central Distributing) has loading gates facing the trackage. The structure itself was built in 1980[3].

Warehouse on South Ave occupied by LEWCO Warehouse Co. has loading gates and the platform facing the trackage. The structure was built in 1915, and housed Morey Mercantile Co., the J.S. Brown Mercantile Co., and Armour & Co. in 1919 according to Sanborn Fire Insurance Map[3, 4].


: GMCO Corporation depot
: ZTS 725 and 726 GMCO Corporation spur

Within the downtown industrial district, besides former D&RGW freight depot, several industries are still served by rail.

GMCO Corporation (ZTS 725, G. M. C. O. and 726, House #6) established in 1964, provides road maintenance and dust control products[5]. GMCO receives chemical products by tank cars. One of the steel tanks at the facilities retains TEXACO stencil representing the predecessor.

NVECO Services Inc. established in 2005, next to the south of GMCO is also served by rail (ZTS 710, Mobil Oil)[6]. NVECO ships collected used oil by tank cars.

revised, Dec. 25, 2020

[1] 1960-61 D&RGW Utah Industry Map;
[2] Hight, Denise, (2020) Christmas trees for sale, Grand Junction, circa 1950., Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado;
[3] City of Grand Junction Business Map;
[4] 1919 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Grand Junction;
[5] GMCO Corporation company homepage;
[6] Quick Transport Solutions website;

: Map of Grand Junction Industries Served by rail

　　
旧D&RGW沿線に今も遺るRio Grandeの遺物を紹介している。

かつては毛細血管のように町中に張り巡らされていた引き込み線も、こんにちでは洋の東西を問わず、見かけることは少なくなってきた。D&RGW本線の中間地点にあたるコロラド州Grand Junctionの町もその例外ではないが、それでもまだ幾カ所か生き残っている。しかし、Union Pacificにおいても、今後Precision Scheduled Railroadingの導入を拡充するとTrains Newswireで報じられていたので、予断を許さない。一昨年、今のうちと考え訪ねてきたのでここで順次紹介する。

駅周辺にもいくつかの引き込み線が遺っている。かつて、町中を180°の円を描いて巡っていた引き込み線の一部が、駅の東側に延びている。この引き込み線に沿うCentral Distributing Co. (ZTS 729, Central Distributing)や、LEWCO Warehouse Co.といった倉庫会社の社屋には荷受け口やプラットホームが遺っているが、線路は土に埋もれており貨車の入線はなさそうだ。

先に紹介した旧D&RGWのFreight Depotの南隣りには、GMCO Corporation (ZTS 725, G. M. C. O. and 726, House #6)という道路維持作業者の施設や、NVECO Services Inc. (ZTS 710, Mobil Oil)という廃油回収業者の施設があり、それぞれタンク車が出入りしている。

駅に隣接する側線(ZTS 728, Team Track)や、旅客列車が入線しない２番線(ZTS 041)にも貨車の入線がある。