A pair of P42DCs (both in Phase 5) are power on a typical Zephyr consist this morning as the train passes by Oberon Lake #1 in Arvada. The Zephyr is roughly halfway between the control point at Arvada (CP DS007) and the east switch of Leyden (CP DS012).
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Crossing 66th Avenue, the westbound Zephyr is running right on time as it navigates its way through the residential Denver suburb of Arvada. Arvada has a few areas of commercial zoning, but the vast majority of the city of 120,000 citizens is filled with houses.
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The westbound Zephyr approaches the grade crossing at 66th Avenue in Arvada. With the morning Zephyr generally headed away from the sun, this short stretch of track by 66th Avenue is one of the best places for a reasonably lit (not backlit) shot as the tracks run (more or less) geographically north here.
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Two older C44-9Ws serve as DPUs on the tail end of this westbound HDENPVO (high priority manifest from Denver, CO to Provo, UT). The paint is a bit charred on the long hood of BNSF 5265, still sporting the Heritage 2 scheme. Downtown Denver is now being cast in some direct sunlight amid some afternoon thunderstorms roaming the area.
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BNSF's Denver-Provo has the typical 3x2 units for power, but the specific units are anything but typical! Only one of the five units has the New Image scheme. The end DPUs sport the original Heritage and Heritage 2 schemes. A KCS de Mexico (in gray) and KCS Retro-Belle are on the point, approaching the east end of Eisele (Clay).
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An interesting trio of GEs lead BNSF's westbound Denver to Provo manifest on the south edge of Big Ten Curve this evening, as there is some nice storm light to the southeast out toward downtown Denver. BNSF 6314, an ES44C4, leads a KCS de Mexico (in gray, no less) AC4400CW, and a KCS ES44AC on the train.
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BNSF's Denver-Provo manifest typically has more tank cars than anything else, and this evening's train is no exception. The train is climbing out of Rocky, along the north edge of Big Ten Curve in some wonderful evening sunlight. A BNSF ES44C4 and two KCS units, elephant-style, are the power today.
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A lot of the storm clouds have, at least temporarily, cleared out and the sun is shining near West Rocky as BNSF's Denver-Provo makes its way west. The train was projected to be called at 10am, but it ended up taking quite a bit longer before it was actually called. There is some colorful power on the headend of the train this evening.
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There is a break in the afternoon storms and, indeed, a break in the clouds downtown is allowing some direct sunlight on the skyline as a BNSF manifest heads west out of Leyden, starting the journey to Provo, UT.
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The evening Zephyr departs the east end of Rocky and enters into the narrow west end of Barbara's Gulch.
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The Zephyr rolls east on the main at Rocky. In this shot, you can clearly see the difference between welded rail (on the main) and jointed rail (on the siding). Some track equipment is currently tied down on the house track. Note that derails are properly set on both ends of the house track.
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The eastbound Zephyr wraps its way through Little Ten Curve near the west end of Rocky. In the distance (and above), you can see the signals at the west end of Eisele (Clay).
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Coming around Big Ten Curve, the eastbound Zephyr is descending the nearly 2% grade toward Rocky. Note the tail end of the open hoppers that serve as a wind break to the right of the frame. You can see the Denver skyline off in the distance, where the Zephyr itself will be in about 45 minutes.
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One of the most popular locomotives ever produced, a pair of SD40-2s lead the west local (with six covered hoppers) east at the intermediate west of Leyden. 31 railroads in the United States and Canada purchased SD40-2s. Of the nearly 4,000 units produced between January 1972 and October 1989, the majority of them are still in service today in once capacity or another.
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The power for the west local, a pair of SD40-2s, is headed west on the main at Rocky. The rain has really started to come down, moisture that the Front Range really needs after a couple of weeks of dry, clear skies and temperatures in the upper 90°Fs. The power will return to the six covered hoppers that it will bring back to North Yard.
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