Rollins Pass route over the Continental Divide

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The Rollins Pass route over the Continental Divide was a high-altitude, winding railroad line in Colorado known for its challenging grades, severe weather, and historic engineering feats before being superseded by the Moffat Tunnel.

All labels observed (2)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf mountain pass railroad route
railroad line
climate alpine
constructionChallenge harsh mountain environment
unstable snow and rock conditions
country United States
crosses Continental Divide of the Americas
linked to: Continental Divide
difficulty operationally challenging
elevation over 11,000 feet above sea level
engineeringSignificance example of high-mountain railroad construction in the United States
gauge standard gauge
hasFeature exposed summit alignment
sharp curves
steep grades
hasStructure loops and switchbacks
snow sheds
trestles
heritageStatus historic railroad route
historicalPeriod early 20th century railroad era
knownFor challenging grades
high altitude
historic engineering feats
severe winter weather
winding alignment
locatedIn Colorado
namedAfter Rollins Pass
operationalIssue frequent closures due to snow
slow speeds due to curvature and grade
partOf Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad system
Denver and Salt Lake Railway main line
passesThrough Boulder County, Colorado
linked to: Boulder County

Gilpin County, Colorado
Grand County, Colorado
purpose to provide a rail crossing of the Continental Divide before construction of the Moffat Tunnel
replacedBy Moffat Tunnel route
state Colorado
subjectTo avalanches
heavy snowfall
high winds
supersededBy lower-elevation tunnel route under the Continental Divide
terrain Rocky Mountains
transportMode rail
usedBy freight trains
passenger trains
usedFor transcontinental rail traffic between eastern Colorado and western Colorado

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Moffat Tunnel route replaced Rollins Pass route over the Continental Divide
Moffat Tunnel reducesTravelDistanceComparedTo Rollins Pass route
linked to: Rollins Pass route over the Continental Divide