Alas, the clouds were out in force this morning, so the shutter speed was a bit low on this telephoto shot of CSX 1981, the Pan Am Railways heritage unit, lead a westbound coal empty at Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A bit of a surprise on the Moffat this morning, as a pair of CSX units (and a UP unit) lead a westbound coal empty. Even more surprising was CSX 1981 on the point. Along with Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak, CSX has a "heritage unit" program. The lead unit is the heritage unit for Pan Am Railways.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
AMTK 164, the Phase 4 heritage unit, is likely the most common heritage unit to run on the Zephyr (and over the Moffat). I think I've seen this one way more often than the Phase 1 through 3 heritage units. In any case, it is leading the Zephyr west around Big Ten Curve this morning, along with AMTK 23.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr just passed by some maintenance equipment in the siding and house track at Rocky. The Zephyr is about 25 minutes late this morning. UP's yard transfer between BNSF's 31st Street Yard and UP's North Yard was temporarily blocking the Zephyr down at Prospect Jct.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A couple of track maintainers are prepping a track regulator in the house track at Rocky, getting ready to do some work today. Meanwhile, the last train for the next several hours, BNSF's Provo-Denver, rolls by eastbound on the main track.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
One of those times when the shot worked out just perfect! As the head end of the Provo-Denver approaches the west switch of Rocky, a pair of DPUs are coming around the east edge of Big Ten Loop on the tail end of the train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of ES44ACs bring up the end of the eastbound Provo-Denver around the east edge of the Big Ten Loop. The train is relatively short with 63 cars, but BNSF has three units on the point and two points on the rear.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Along the south edge of Big Ten Loop, this eastbound BNSF manifest is continuing east toward Denver. At the moment, it is running a bit below track speed. UP has some slow orders out due to some track work they have been doing in the area.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An eastbound BNSF Provo-Denver manifest, whose crew is running short on time, met the Zephyr up at Plain. DS-378 had a great meet setup, and neither train had to come to a stop. Here, the manifest is coming through the S-Curves at Blue Mountain Drive, with a typical three units on the head end.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Last weekend, I saw my first Superliner sporting Amtrak's Phase 7 paint scheme. That was on a lounge car. Here is the second Superliner I've seen, a coach/baggage on the tail end of the train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The east portal of Tunnel 1 is a fantastic spot for a shot of westbounds in the morning, as the tracks actually head (more or less) east, putting the train in great morning light. As a result, I like to try to explore some different perspectives. The lower view up toward the tracks was just right for the Zephyr with AMTK 176 and AMTK 203 on the point.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Despite the extreme dry weather, it does appear that the foliage is starting to green up a little bit here around Eisele (Clay). AMTK 176 and AMTK 203 lead the westbound Zephyr on the main track here near the east end of the siding.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This seemed like the perfect angle, along the east side of Big Ten Loop, for a shot of the morning Zephyr as it heads west. You can see Tunnel 1 in the distance, and even the east portal of Tunnel 4 further off in the distance.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
On the lower north edge of Big Ten Loop, the morning Zephyr is starting its climb. As we move in to Spring, the Denver area is still in the midst of the driest winter season in recorded history. It is unlikely the foliage is going to green up as much this spring compared to a typical spring.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
At the west switch of rocky, the westbound Zephyr is sporting a colorful consist as it climbs toward Big Ten Curve, running precisely on time.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
