#abocanyon

Beevers

After exploring Abo Canyon a bit, I paused to watch the sunset. This spot, what the BNSF calls Beevers, lies between Belen and the mouth of the canyon; I believe that is Ladron Peak in the distance. We're along the Belen Cutoff, built by the ATSF in 1908.

Abo Canyon Action

We see here an eastbound train climbing up through the canyon. The rail line, of course, is the Belen Cutoff, built by the ATSF, which opened in 1908. This newer, modern line, avoided the steep grades of Raton and Glorieta on the original main line built across northern New Mexico in the 1880s.

And there are two lines here: the train is climbing up on the original cutoff, while the second track (on the left side of the image) was carved out and opened in 2011. The canyon had been a major bottle neck prior to this.

Sunset at Beevers

After exploring Abo Canyon a couple of years, I paused to watch the sun set just to the west. This spot, what the BNSF calls Beevers, lies between Belen and the mouth of the canyon; I believe that is Ladron Peak in the distance. This is along the Belen Cutoff, built by the ATSF in 1908.

West of Abo Canyon

After exploring Abo Canyon a bit recently, I paused to watch the sun set just to the west. This spot lies between Belen and the mouth of the canyon; I believe that is Ladron Peak in the distance in the first two images.

The rail line of course, is the Belen Cutoff, built by the ATSF, which opened in 1908. This newer, modern line avoided steep grades of Raton and Glorieta on the original main line built in the 1880s.

Abo Canyon Action, Part One

In addition to the archaeological railway images I made on this trip, I wanted to photograph some contemporary railroad action. I was able to spend a couple of hours on the Belen Cutoff of the BNSF for this purpose.

These particular images, of a westbound train, were taken near the small settlement of Abo itself, several miles east of the famous canyon.

The rail line was built by the ATSF and opened in 1908. This newer, modern line avoided the very steep grades of Raton and Glorieta on the original main line built across northern New Mexico in the 1880s.

Abo Canyon Action, Part Two

This is an eastbound train fighting up the grade a few miles east of Abo Canyon itself. Google Maps calls this particular spot Cañon Latigo.

The rail line, of course, is the Belen Cutoff, built by the ATSF, which opened in 1908. This newer, modern line avoided the steep grades of Raton and Glorieta on the original main line built across northern New Mexico in the 1880s.

Abo Canyon Action, Part Four

As I made my way back toward the west and I-25, I was able to make a few more images in the vicinity of Abo Canyon.

The first images shows two trains meeting out on the flat just west of Abo Canyon; the next two were taken not too much further west, with the western sky putting on a show for the end of day.

The rail line, of course, is the Belen Cutoff, built by the ATSF, which opened in 1908. This newer, modern line avoided the steep grades of Raton and Glorieta on the original main line built across northern New Mexico in the 1880s.