A westbound UP oil train meets a (tied down) BNSF Provo-Denver manifest at Rocky. The head end is approaching the turnout to the Rocky Flats Industrial Lead (the Rocky Spur).
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The morning Zephyr is running right on time as it rounds the curve toward the east portal of Tunnel 1. AMTK 203 has a very unique paint scheme in honor of 50 years of the Operation Lifesaver program. The unit seems to show up on the Zephyr maybe once a year.
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The Zephyr is climbing in the fog as the clouds lay low on this Sunday morning. The yellow nose of AMTK 203 is very unique for an Amtrak P42DC.
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AMTK 203, which honors 50 years of Operation Lifesaver, is leading the westbound Zephyr this morning along with AMTK 140. Low hanging clouds and snowy trees make it feel more like December rather than two days before the start of April!
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The westbound California Zephyr is sporting Amtrak's specially painted Operation Lifesaver P42DC on the point as it moves through a foggy, snowy scene at the west switch of Eisele (Clay).
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As frequently happens, BNSF's Provo-Denver is currently tied down on the siding at Rocky, awaiting a recrew and a spot in the yard. Spring is refusing to fully kick in, as a bit of snow powders the area.
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A Canadian Pacific ES44AC is spending some time on BNSF, currently on the head end of BNSF's Provo-Denver manifest. It is now only a matter of time before this unit is repainted in its new CPKC paint scheme.
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BNSF's eastbound Provo-Denver manifest passes by the intermediate signal at MP 14.6, just west of Leyden. The train will have a clear shot to run the rest of the way in to Denver after meeting the Rocky Mountaineer at Plain.
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Four units, including a Canadian Pacific ES44AC, are on the head end of this eastbound Provo-Denver manifest. From this limited view, it would be easy to confuse this with a unit tank (oil) train. One good tipoff that this is not a unit oil train is the lack of a buffer car behind the power.
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A bit of exhaust is being kicked up by the geeps on the point of this test run of the Rocky Mountaineer as it approaches Tunnel 1. The train will be regular revenue operation between Denver and Moab, UT in a few weeks.
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At the start of the season, or in the case, the pre-season, the Rocky Mountaineer GP40-3s can pretty well be counted on to make an appearance on the train. For this pre-season test run, there are only eight cars in tow for the trip. The train is actually testing an extended service that will start in 2026, taking the train from Denver to Salt Lake City (and back). The train will be rebranded as the Canyon Spirit.
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After several months of little to no use, the Rocky Mountaineer GP40-3s are burning off a bit of built up carbon, kicking up quite a bit of exhaust as it burns off.
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A test run of the Rocky Mountaineer is rounding Little Ten Curve on the main at Rocky. It is meeting UP's eastbound MGJNY, which has a single DPU, waiting on the siding.
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The Rocky Mountaineer is conducting a test run ahead of the 2025 season, which starts it roughly a month. In addition to this being a good test run for the crew, it is also a test run for an expansion of service in 2026. The train is expected to run from Denver to Salt Lake City starting in 2026, and this is a test run for that service.
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Another UP rebuild of a GP38-2 into a GP38N is hitching a ride on the MGJNY. Considering the fact that this is a recent rebuild by UP, it is unlikely the unit is headed for the scrapper. More likely it is due for an inspection and, afterward, will return to Grand Junction for switching duties. The unit was delivered new to Missouri Pacific in February 1981.
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