[4K] Farewell Black Mesa and Lake Powell Railway

[@railfanxyz7435]

Well darn... and a unique electric freight in the US too. Kinda ironic in a way that the only electric freight line pulls coal trains. I'm glad some railfans got footage of this before it's gone.

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

Well done vid!👌

[@thetruckingrailfan4449]

I'm not sure why this came across my suggested videos, but I'm glad it did. I saw this railroad once in person several years ago while taking a load from Durango, CO to Las Vegas, NV, but I didn't get to see the train actually running. I didn't even know that the railroad existed other than noticing the tracks and catenary where it parallels the highway. It struck me as odd to see an electrified line in the middle of nowhere in Arizona. It sort of made sense when I saw the tracks end at the power plant near Page, but I always wondered where the line originated and if it's sole purpose was transporting coal. I now have my answer. It's funny how KZbin seems to be able to read your mind sometimes. Thank you for the video and information. Sad to see such a unique railroad join the ranks of the fallen flags.

[@microbusss]

its completely isolated from the main lines of all railroads the cars & locos were trucked in!

[@froztytrainfilms9148]

Me too man. I saw this rail line when we were going to Monument valley in the summer of 2019, but I never got to see the locomotives operate on the line. It was a few days after they said they would decommission the coal plant. The day after, when we were coming back from Monument Valley and once again I got to see the railroad line, we crossed over the tracks and I saw workers who seemed to be taking the railroad crossing down. I was sad to hear that they would stop operating, but the least I got to see was a few of the locomotives which were still sitting at the power plant.

[@JoshRidestheRails]

Very sad to hear that this line is closing. Especially with it being so unique.

[@vinnie97]

A well-heeled entrepreneurial type could convert it into a tourist line from Page to Kayenta with multiple stops along the way. It seems this could benefit the local economy through every town that it passes. When you account for the added attractions on both ends (Lake Powell, Monument Valley), at least a fourth of the work is already done.

[@enjoyingrailroading1013]

Thank you for documenting the final days of operation of the BM&LP! Remember first becoming aware of the operation many years ago through an article in either "Railway Age" or "Trains" magazine. Truly unique!! A few questions.... (1.) When did BM&LP acquire the motors from NdeM? (2.) Was the operation a single train set making the load/empty cycle or were two sets in operation. (3.) How frequently did the train(s) operate? (4.) Any word on what will happen to the motive pwr, rolling stock & rail infrastructure? Thank you again for your well produced video.

[@froztytrainfilms9148]

I had just went over to Arizona for vacation, and as soon as I saw that they stopped operations, I was Uber sad. A very unique railroad, and operated by some of the only E60’s in existence, I would’ve loved to see it in operation when I had went.

[@charlesbonkley]

Yes!!! I see that you may have listened to my suggestion! Thank you for properly documenting this railroad. I never got a chance to go up to see it myself, but glad it has been captured in great detail...more so than the grainy, few videos from several years ago.

[@epacm50]

Very Sad To Hear!!! I am glad you caught the last few trains.

[@erictucker98]

last year i drove from Monument Valley to Grand Canyon South rim and i drove right alongside this railway. It was quite interesting.

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

great video bro

[@rolpfeiffermuller935]

Thanks airing and sharing the outstanding vid.Endeavors are unmatched.Bliss

[@denault3985]

Great scenes of an interesting railroad. Must have been very hot shooting this railroad...108+ anyone?

[@SD70MAC]

Thank you for share video Very sad closing down I hope save these electric locomotive find new home or special museum

[@Henry5623]

In regards to the E60's it's been - rumored - that one, possibly two, of the units could end up being taken in by museums/third party interests. That said at this point in time it's a rumor at best. It has been confirmed by employees of the BM&LP that any units not purchased by museums or third parties will be scrapped on site. The rail cars themselves aren't above being scrapped either as they along with the motive power suffer the same problem of being very difficult to relocate due to the railroads remoteness and consequently the massive costs that it would require to even relocate the coal cars themselves would detract most outside companies from any interests in them to begin with. The motive power itself is doubly doomed as not only would it be even more difficult to relocate them to a interested buyer but the buyer would consequently need the electrical infrastructure already installed on their system to handle the electric locomotives to start with. Not to mention the fact that the units are between 30 and 40+ years old and any electrified operation would be seeking newer power. Which when all that is taken into consideration it all but guarantees that the motive power will never see operation again and will be lucky if any of the units even survive being scrapped to start with. The units technically shouldn't have even made it this long. It was more-less a coincidence that these units ended up on the BM&LP to start with. They were originally NdeM units out of Mexico that through a long story ended up back in the US and basically looking for a railroad to take them to keep them from immediately being scrapped. It was again more-less dumb luck the BM&LP just so happened to need heavy six axle electric locomotives for there operations at the time to keep these things going as long as they have or else they'd have been gone decades ago.

[@lhsboyproductions3446]

Very sad the hear. That really sucks! :( Thumbs up for the video though :)

[@FalconXE302]

The first train... going through a section of track and the overhead wires are held up by wooden poles... that is amazing... so old fashioned.... never seen that before...!

[@Brianrockrailfan]

so said this rail line could be gone for forever :

[@eva.cassidy]

Sad to see it close up. To bad they can't use it for a tourist ride in the future.

[@vinnie97]

Can't see why they couldn't, other than $$$.

[@Henry5623]

@@vinnie97 The complete and total lack of any public interest is the biggest reason why it'll never happen. No one is going to pay to be ferried around the literal middle of nowhere in the desert just to see nothing of interest and even if some were, it'd be far short of the financial costs to keep such a operation of this scale able to be operated.

[@rickygarcia7400]

This is sad this railway well join the Milwaukee road and others in railroad heaven I realy hate it whin railways get shut down):

[@vinnie97]

Given the uniqueness of this being the only electric train in AZ, it is itching to be converted into a tourist attraction. With the tourist destinations on both ends (Lake Powell, Monument Valley), this would really emphasize the waste not, want not ethos.

[@SBKNO1]

Would make a cool tourist train. The numbers $$ probably wouldn't even come close though. Amtrak couldn't run one day on ticket revenue alone.

[@vinnie97]

Yea, I'm sure it's been considered. I mentioned it elsewhere but hadn't considered how much money would need to be sunk into it (in advertising alone) to make it economically viable.

[@Parras243]

Great video! Running there 3 ex NdM, Nacionales de Mexico :)

[@Tequila8748]

Nice video bro!

[@AgentSpockAgentSpock]

Branch Caltrans is thinking about buying the locomotives for Freight in San Francisco or probably even if it's a pig in one of the Railway Museum thinking about buying some of the locomotive to

[@epacm50]

What a great idea!

[@AgentSpockAgentSpock]

@@epacm50 more and likely it will probably happen

[@daveskinner5131]

Really disciplined shooting and composition. Breaks my heart the Greens won on this, it's going to hurt a lot of good people.

[@MiddleTennesseeRailProductions]

Indeed.

[@LooseGravel14]

Dave Skinner Wasn’t the greens, economics. Cheaper to use natural gas than running a mine, RR, and coal plant.

[@daveskinner5131]

No, it was constant litigation in the permitting process, not just for Four Corners, but to inoculate against any new plant construction, or to require extreme retrofits, that made coal "uneconomic." That is, in terms of artificially-induced operating costs. Kind of like how property taxes helped to wreck the Northeast Class Ones. So read something other than the LA Times.

[@aaronballeck3153]

@@LooseGravel14 Navajos have been fighting the coal mine for years along side the greenies. Everyone got what they wanted. Hope they enjoy

[@vinnie97]

@@aaronballeck3153 Not all the Navajos.

[@CentralPennRailProductions]

Great video! Are you going to do one for Escalante & Western too?

[@Beatsfromthestreet]

The good ol West days

[@michellepellecchia3908]

Well that's sad as it is an electric freight train in The USA hope fully it becomes touristy and runs in service again. I just wonder why they closed the railway down

[@PCMenten]

Wow, talk about stranded assets. California should use these on sunny days to help freight trains up mountain passes. Use some of that free energy to avoid the air pollution of EMD diesels lugging freight.

[@thatvintageguyXD]

What is going to happen to the E60 Locomotives? They still look like they can operate and are in great condition. How did this railroad half to come to an end, was it because it costs to much to run this railroad or something else?? What kind of future would theses locomotives have if the line is closing??

[@alek488]

That Vintage Guy they closed because coal was starting to get too expensive to use for electricity i think. I bet one of the E60s will be sold to a museum

[@aaronballeck3153]

Greenies and the navajos have been protesting the coal mine for years. They got what they wanted.

[@Henry5623]

To answer your question in regards to the rolling stock the railroad owns the rail cars themselves POSSIBLY will be resold but that is not a guarantee. As for the E60's it's been - rumored - that one, possibly two, of the units could end up being taken in by museums/third party interests. That said at this point in time it's a rumor at best. It has been confirmed by employees of the BM&LP that any units not purchased by museums or third parties will be scrapped on site. The rail cars themselves aren't above being scrapped either as they along with the motive power suffer the same problem of being very difficult to relocate due to the railroads remoteness and consequently the massive costs that it would require to even relocate the coal cars themselves would detract most outside companies from any interests in them to begin with. The motive power itself is doubly doomed as not only would it be even more difficult to relocate them to a interested buyer but the buyer would consequently need the electrical infrastructure already installed on their system to handle the electric locomotives to start with. Not to mention the fact that the units are between 30 and 40+ years old and any electrified operation would be seeking newer power. Which when all that is taken into consideration it all but guarantees that the motive power will never see operation again and will be lucky if any of the units even survive being scrapped to start with. The units technically shouldn't have even made it this long. It was more-less a coincidence that these units ended up on the BM&LP to start with. They were originally NdeM units out of Mexico that through a long story ended up back in the US and basically looking for a railroad to take them to keep them from immediately being scrapped. It was again more-less dumb luck the BM&LP just so happened to need heavy six axle electric locomotives for there operations at the time to keep these things going as long as they have or else they would have been gone decades ago.

[@herzschlagerhoht5637]

Damn, these trains are long!

[@kdtrproductions4983]

😔 I’m very sad

[@rickygarcia7400]

KDT&R Productions it made my stomich drop whin I found out this line was shutting down I realy hate it with a Passoin whin railroads get shutdown.

[@isaacrobles6122]

They have nice p5 horns

[@raymundouscanga]

Like NS U23B

[@brucekellett2269]

Yeah they sound great 2:56 the engineer really hangs on to the horn. We still have them on some locomotives here in Australia. Even some Leslie Super typhons too. Shame about my tinitis though all that noise 46 years. Retired driver (engineer )

[@lokomac8]

I drove over to see the last train, which I thought was operating today, but with no plan and me not knowing a schedule, I never saw the train -- if it ran I likely missed it where it leaves the view of the roads. Looked like they were having a little closing down party in the parking lot at the generating station, but the signs said INVITED guests only, so I didn't crash it either, lol. Thanks for the fantastic video PHX Sub Railfanner!!! At least I get to see what I missed and it's 100-fold better than anything I would have shot. Here's my video from 1983, such as it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hai2XoSnmKd_jKc

[@Trainlover1995]

You know what would be better than outright ripping up the line? Turning it into a tourist railroad.

[@alangibson3293]

I thought someone said they where going to bring back the coal miners jobs? Thanks for the video. Just found you and subscribed.

[@notrilho]

Muito bom o vídeo! Uma pena esse ramal estar encerrando sua operações!

[@railyardfilms6491]

Great different rail to film on

[@northjerseyrailfan9326]

;_;7 farewell

[@ABALLAM3]

I never even knew this railroad existed, and yet I am sure Trains Magazine has mentioned it before. Does this railway have an outlet to BNSF's Transcon?

[@jamesshanks2614]

It wasn't connected to the national grid. Strictly a captive railroad. It was also unique in the fact it ran on 50,000 volts AC 60 cycles. Most electrified railroads through out the world operate at 25'000 volts AC 50 cycles. The one oddity is Japan, one half of the country runs on 50 cycles and the other half is 60 cycles. Go figure. Normally an entire country runs on one decision to make the electric system 50 cycles.

[@mohsoo6858]

I visit this railroad along us 160

[@microbusss]

did this line ever use cabooses? also what will happen to the track, locos & equipment now?

[@Henry5623]

To answer your questions the BM&LP never used cabooses on any of there operations and as far as the equipment is concerned the rails and concrete ties will be torn up and likely resold. The rail cars themselves POSSIBLY will be resold but that is not a guarantee. As for the E60's it's been - rumored - that one, possibly two, of the units could end up being taken in by museums/third party interests. That said at this point in time it's a rumor at best. It has been confirmed by employees of the BM&LP that any units not purchased by museums or third parties will be scrapped on site. The rail cars themselves aren't above being scrapped either as they along with the motive power suffer the same problem of being very difficult to relocate due to the railroads remoteness and consequently the massive costs that it would require to even relocate the coal cars themselves would detract most outside companies from any interests in them to begin with. The motive power itself is doubly doomed as not only would it be even more difficult to relocate them to a interested buyer but the buyer would consequently need the electrical infrastructure already installed on their system to handle the electric locomotives to start with. Not to mention the fact that the units are between 30 and 40+ years old and any electrified operation would be seeking newer power. Which when all that is taken into consideration it all but guarantees that the motive power will never see operation again and will be lucky if any of the units even survive being scrapped to start with. The units technically shouldn't have even made it this long. It was more-less a coincidence that these units ended up on the BM&LP to start with. They were originally NdeM units out of Mexico that through a long story ended up back in the US and basically looking for a railroad to take them to keep them from immediately being scrapped. It was again more-less dumb luck the BM&LP just so happened to need heavy six axle electric locomotives for there operations at the time to keep these things going as long as they have or else they'd have been gone decades ago.

[@magmajctaz1405]

Do we know when the closure will happen? I've always wanted to photograph this train.

[@PHXSubRailfanner]

Michael Fritz Last train ran yesterday...

[@SailorMoonRailfan]

I wonder why the line is closing?

[@maddennis55]

I looked this up on google maps. IF, this was to connect to the railroad network, would the best way be to the Grand Canyon line?

[@LooseGravel14]

maddennis55 It I just a dog bone loop, mine to generating plant. It’s just upriver from the Grand Canyon and really affected th air quality there. That’s not the reason it’s closing however, just economics.

[@maddennis55]

@@LooseGravel14 You missed my inquiry. I KNOW it is an isolated railroad. but IF it was to be connected to the national railroad system, a good distance in any direction, what would be the most logical direction to go? Not knowing the terrain of the area, just looking at google maps, my guess would be toward the GCRR. What would be someone elses guess?

[@briangardiner1015]

@@maddennis55 It would cost a lot of money to connect the 2 probably billions of dollars. I guess maybe it could go south to meet the Transcon. I would think they thought that though.

[@daredog317]

😭😭😭I never got to see it

[@herzschlagerhoht5637]

Is the line going to be dismantled?

[@csxmaniac212]

Why are they closing? Will the track be cut up for scrap or Will the locomotives get scrapped to? Sad to see this go.

[@charlesbonkley]

The sole purpose of the railroad was to deliver coal directly from the mine to the Navajo Generating Station. The plant is closing down.

[@Henry5623]

To answer your questions the rails and concrete ties will be torn up and likely resold. The rail cars themselves POSSIBLY will be resold but that is not a guarantee. As for the E60's it's been - rumored - that one, possibly two, of the units could end up being taken in by museums/third party interests. That said at this point in time it's a rumor at best. It has been confirmed by employees of the BM&LP that any units not purchased by museums or third parties will be scrapped on site. The rail cars themselves aren't above being scrapped either as they along with the motive power suffer the same problem of being very difficult to relocate due to the railroads remoteness and consequently the massive costs that it would require to even relocate the coal cars themselves would detract most outside companies from any interests in them to begin with. The motive power itself is doubly doomed as not only would it be even more difficult to relocate them to a interested buyer but the buyer would consequently need the electrical infrastructure already installed on their system to handle the electric locomotives to start with. Not to mention the fact that the units are between 30 and 40+ years old and any electrified operation would be seeking newer power. Which when all that is taken into consideration it all but guarantees that the motive power will never see operation again and will be lucky if any of the units even survive being scrapped to start with. The units technically shouldn't have even made it this long. It was more-less a coincidence that these units ended up on the BM&LP to start with. They were originally NdeM units out of Mexico that through a long story ended up back in the US and basically looking for a railroad to take them to keep them from immediately being scrapped. It was again more-less dumb luck the BM&LP just so happened to need heavy six axle electric locomotives for there operations at the time to keep these things going as long as they have or else they'd have been gone decades ago.

[@csxmaniac212]

Thanks!

[@chartreuserailfanning2230]

What is going to happen to the locomotives?

[@Henry5623]

To answer your question in regards to the E60's it's been - rumored - that one, possibly two, of the units could end up being taken in by museums/third party interests. That said at this point in time it's a rumor at best. It has been confirmed by employees of the BM&LP that any units not purchased by museums or third parties will be scrapped on site. The rail cars themselves aren't above being scrapped either as they along with the motive power suffer the same problem of being very difficult to relocate due to the railroads remoteness and consequently the massive costs that it would require to even relocate the coal cars themselves would detract most outside companies from any interests in them to begin with. The motive power itself is doubly doomed as not only would it be even more difficult to relocate them to a interested buyer but the buyer would consequently need the electrical infrastructure already installed on their system to handle the electric locomotives to start with. Not to mention the fact that the units are between 30 and 40+ years old and any electrified operation would be seeking newer power. Which when all that is taken into consideration it all but guarantees that the motive power will never see operation again and will be lucky if any of the units even survive being scrapped to start with. The units technically shouldn't have even made it this long. It was more-less a coincidence that these units ended up on the BM&LP to start with. They were originally NdeM units out of Mexico that through a long story ended up back in the US and basically looking for a railroad to take them to keep them from immediately being scrapped. It was again more-less dumb luck the BM&LP just so happened to need heavy six axle electric locomotives for there operations at the time to keep these things going as long as they have or else they'd have been gone decades ago.

[@joesniffin8829]

"This was the only electric railroad to operate in Arizona" Apparently the Phoenix Light Rail and Tucson Streetcar don't count?

[@alek488]

Joe Sniffin isn’t that a tram

[@joesniffin8829]

Yes, but I am pretty sure that they count because they're technically trains.

[@briangardiner1015]

Maybe he should have said Freight or Unit train.

[@Henry5623]

@@joesniffin8829 There's a startling big difference between a train and a tram/trolley. Trying to compare public light rail based transportation to a electrified coal hauling operation is like saying your a certified aviation pilot because you threw a paper airplane. As he stated it was the only electrified - railroad - operation in Arizona because that's what it was. A railroad. Not intercity transportation.

[@joesniffin8829]

You're right about one thing: This was the only electric FREIGHT railroad to operate in Arizona, however he did not say "freight" in the video's description. According to Google, the definition of railroad is "A track or set of tracks made of steel rails along which passenger and freight trains run". Now, light rails and trams to me are technically trains, not traditional trains with a locomotive and passenger cars, but EMUs, or Electric Multiple Units. They're trains and they're hauling passengers down their line. That sounds like a railroad to me. You can have the opinion that it doesn't count, but to me the term applies.

[@bobmar9239]

? No comments about the monkey wrench gang?

[@isaacrobles6122]

Where’s this at

[@daniellaubach7544]

Northern Arizona.