Well, unfortunately, for the third run of the 2024 season, the Rocky Mountaineer has a pair of leased SD70Ms from Union Pacific. Not exactly sure what happened with the GP40-3s. Also not sure why the leased power from Horizon Rail was not used. Regardless, overall the two SD70Ms in use do look pretty good overall on the climb up to Big Ten.
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With the advent of drones, I really enjoy getting shots at Eisele (Clay). If you are on the ground, you have to hike in to Clay. Consequently, I did not have too many shots from Clay prior to about 2019. It's great to be able to easily access in 2024 for this westbound oil empty.
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UP 5284 leads a westbound oil train around the outside of Big Ten Curve. You can just see part of the wind break hoppers on the inside of the curve. In the summer, it is pretty common to have totally clear skies in the morning with clouds and thunderstorms in the afternoons. However, on the first day of May, it is still very spring-like and some partly cloud skies are around this morning.
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A pair of ES44ACs, with an SD70ACe sandwiched between, lead a westbound empty oil train up the north edge of Big Ten Curve as some clouds rolls in from the Rockies, headed for the plains.
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I gotta say, I can think of worse jobs than working for the FRA, sitting in a track geometry car and watching the tracks zip by through a picture window on the back of the car! That is what two employees of the FRA are doing this morning as this FRA track geometry car, T-16, follows not too far behind the westbound Zephyr, just west of Tunnel 1.
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A very short special climbs toward the east portal of Tunnel 1. The last car on the special...which is what makes it a special..is an FRA track geometry car. It has a lot of advanced equipment that checks the integrity of the track as it rolls.
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Two Federal Railroad Administration employees look out the picture window on the back of this FRA inspection car, checking out the track as the car, led by a UP AC4400CW, pulls west through the S-Curve on the approach to Blue Mountain Drive. This particular car is designated as the T-16, and is one of several cars the FRA has for track inspection.
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The FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) inspects the tracks off the Class 1 railroads (and maybe smaller railroads as well...I'm not sure). Looks like today it is the Moffat's turn to get the inspection. UP 6060 has a gondola and FRA inspection car in tow.
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UP 6060 has a gondola and an FRA inspection car in tow just west of the west switch of Rocky, starting up toward Big Ten.
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The crew of RMRX 8021 is facing the east portal of Tunnel 2 and the official start of the Tunnel District, just west of the west switch of Plain. The weather is very pleasant for this first revenue run of the train, which is headed for Glenwood Springs, CO for the night before continuing on to Moab, UT tomorrow.
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The ground at the west end of Plain narrows pretty rapidly as the siding comes to an end and the single track main continues west in to the Tunnel District. The Rocky Mountaineer is just about to start the run west through the district, leaving Plain behind and approaching Tunnel 2.
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After a long, cold winter, its Rocky Mountaineer season once again! The first revenue run of the "Rockies to the Red Rocks" charges west on the main at Plain, approaching Rainbow Cut.
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The number on AMTK 59 (the second unit) has definitely faded a bit and is getting a little bit difficult to read...from a distance, anyway. Interestingly, the conductor's door on the unit must not have been latched tight as it appears to have swung open. The units lead the morning Zephyr through Eisele (Clay), which is starting to green up here in spring.
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The westbound Zephyr, running right on time, makes the right turn from Big Ten Curve by the signals at the east end of Eisele (Clay) on the main.
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The westbound Zephyr is dodging shadows under partly cloudy skies as the train climbs the grade toward Big Ten. The area around Big Ten is really starting to green up as we get deeper in to spring!
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