Working Semaphore Signals on the Glorieta & Raton Subdivisons in New Mexico - 2015 & 2016

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• published: 17 Jun 2016
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Northeastern New Mexico is home to the last working semaphore signals on a mainline in the United States. Over the past year, I have been lucky enough to visit the Raton and Glorieta Subdivisions 2 times, and witness these rare signals, some of which have been replaced since last year. Once owned by the Santa Fe Railroad, this line is now owned by BNSF, and unfortunately no longer has freight traffic running over it. Thankfully, Amtrak's Southwest Chief still uses the line daily on it's run from Los Angeles to Chicago and back, using trains #3 and #4. These semaphores are slowly being phased out, as time progresses. Last year, the signals at Watrous were replaced, just a few months after I visited them. The line is also undergoing some needed upgrades in the coming months, with track repair and signal replacement happening. This means, these semaphores are running on limited time, so if you have an opportunity to make it out here, take it. The line also not only home to the last operating semaphores, but has endless beautiful scenery and vantage points. Weather can also be a factor, as witnessed here in the video. Sunny conditions can turn to cloudy conditions, with rain shortly after. Snow is also a familiar sight along this section of line in the winter months. Train info: Shot #1... East Watrous, NM - 4/8/2015 Amtrak #3 rounds the bend at the now gone semaphores at East Watrous, with 2 heritage baggage cars in tow. These signals had their days numbered, and were taken down just a little while after this was shot. Shot #2... West Watrous, NM - 4/7/2016 Just one day shy of a year later, Amtrak #4 races through the signals at the south end of the Watrous siding. Love the classic jointed rail sound as the train thunders down the line! Shot #3... US-84 near Las Vegas, NM - 4/7/2016 Now down the line to the south, Amtrak #4 cruises through the beautiful New Mexico scenery, passing under the US Route 84 bridge. This train is just minutes away from its next stop in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Shot #4... East Chapelle, NM - 4/8/2015 Amtrak #4 races through the classic semaphore signals at the East Chapelle switch. Great crew as always on this train, as they thunder down the line, north towards Las Vegas. Shot #5... West Chapelle, NM - 4/7/2016 Amtrak #4 rounds the curve at the south end of the Chapelle siding. Also included the semaphores in action just before the train came. Something you surely don't see every day! Shot #6... Bernal, NM - 4/8/2015 Down the line to the south in Bernal, Amtrak #3 continues its journey to the west, as it knocks down the semaphore signal at MP 7312. Windy conditions, pardon the shaking! Shot #7... Rowe, NM - 4/7/2016 Amtrak #4 passes through the "Big City" ;) of Rowe. Still in the mountains high above in the distance, snow can be seen from the previous snowfall a few weeks prior. Shot #8... Glorieta, NM - 4/8/2016 As mentioned above, weather conditions in New Mexico can change suddenly, as witnessed here! Just one day later, Amtrak #4 cruises past the old Glorieta Santa Fe Railroad station in the pouring rain. Shot #9... Glorieta, NM - 4/8/2015 One year prior to the previous shot, Amtrak #4 rounds the curve at Glorieta, on a beautiful spring afternoon, creating a lot of smoke in the process! The former station, is now used as a local Post Office. Shot #10... Lamy, NM - 4/8/2016 Amtrak #4 arrives into the Lamy, New Mexico station on a rainy afternoon. Lamy is a popular station for tourists to use, as it is a connection for passengers to get to nearby Santa Fe, NM to the north. The Santa Fe Southern railroad also runs and interchanges in Lamy, but trains haven't been run by them for a few years now. Shot #11... I-25 near La Bajada Hill - 4/8/2016 Just a few hours later, Amtrak #3 races through the New Mexico landscape, heading towards its next station stop of Albuquerque. Weather can change in an instant here, just an hour prior to this shot, it was pouring rain. Thanks for watching this special presentation! © 2016 MichaelLovesTrains Productions