BNSF Denver Intermodal Facility

I have been immersed into trains my entire life. One of my grandfathers (dad) worked at a train station for quite some time and let’s just say you could clearly tell. His house was filled with everything trains– from lamps to sets to half of the basement was a model train paradise. Needless to say, his enjoyment of trains rubbed off on me.
There are at least 2 major rail transport depots in Denver (the other that I know of being Union Pacific). I had the pleasure to go to the BNSF one! It was the first time I have ever been inside a train yard. Don’t worry, I was there on work business.
Finding the place, well– you kind of have to know where it is, and/​or follow all of the trucks going in and out. Upon finding it on a dead end road (there is a plain lighted white sign), is the gated entrance to the yard. There is a small building separating in/​out, and there were 2 – 3 gates to enter and exit a piece. At each gate, there was a kiosk. Mind you, the kiosk is for truckers. They are at least 7 – 8 feet off the ground. Trust me, I looked up to the screen (from standing on the ground) and I am not necessarily short, either.
The kiosk asks for your information. Make sure you have this info ready to expedite the process and not hold anybody up (don’t wanna miss the train!) behind you); your license number, your pin, the load number, and your tractor license number/​state. I am sure you are being filmed as you do this. After verifying everything, you get a printout, and the gate opens. Welcome to the yard.
When I was there it was just a few minutes before 2AM (phew, made the train!) — so it was pretty dark out (reason I have not taken pictures). The place is 24/​7, so I figured it would have some better lighting.
Be careful when driving through! You do cross a set of (very) live tracks! After crossing the tracks, you drop off your load, pick up one if there is, then get the hell out! Pretty simple process. It is amazing how large the place is. Not sure if you take tours of the place, but I am sure it is pretty cool to hear about the engineering processes that go on there.
Getting out, is the same way as you enter, but hang right. There is either another gate, or a bobtail exit. It looked like a military concrete barrier exit, we stayed at the gate and looked like goofballs. Enough commotion the guy in the building let the gate open for us. Fun times.
Make sure you are registered with the kiosk before you arrive– it will make your life a whole lot smoother. I guess the kiosk (which is slightly challenging for a technologically challenged individual like myself) frustrated me, and I wish there was more lighting around the train areas. But other than that, I am glad to say I got to go.