BNSF New Mexico Mainline, The Gallup Sub

BNSF’s Gallup Subdivision cuts through a wild country etched in red rock cliffs, high mesas, and jagged black formations of ancient lava flows. Running nearly 165 miles from the Arizona border at Lupton to Belen, this former Santa Fe route through the “Land of Enchantment” continues to see a high volume of rail traffic.

Watch long double stacks, hot shot Z trains, coal, grain, and mixed manifests roll beneath the huge sandstone cliffs that mark the southern boundary of the Colorado Plateau. Thrill to the sight and sound of high horsepower diesels lugging freight over the Continental Divide and racing down the east side toward the Albuquerque Basin. Besides BNSF trains, catch Amtrak’s Southwest Chief racing between LA and Chicago plus the Escalante Western Railroad hauling coal to a power plant just off the main line.

We’ll even show you some of the last remaining semaphore signals still working on the nearby Raton Subdivision. This is modern day main line railroading through the rugged setting of the American southwest! This is BNSF’s New Mexico Main Line: The Gallup Sub.

This program was shot in March of 2015.