Just west of Tunnel 27, the evening light couldn't be better as a UP passenger train, deadheading west, nears the west end of the Tunnel District. This train is headed to Grand Junction this evening. UP 6045 was recently repainted in UP's newest scheme, sporting the classic shield on the nose and the flag on the sides of the nose.
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This UP passenger train is just emerging from Tunnel 27 on its trip west through the Tunnel District. If you were to stand at either portal of Tunnel 27, you would not see any hint of light from the opposite portal as there is a 90° bend in the middle of the tunnel.
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The last bit of direct sunlight that I would get for the day is shining on an Amtrak Cascades AIRO trainset, being transported as part of a special Amtrak train (train number 964), by the location of the now-daylighted Tunnel 28.
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AMTK 22 leads a special Amtrak train, exiting from the east portal of Tunnel 29 as it glides down the grade into the upper end of the Tunnel District.
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After meeting a very late westbound Zephyr here at Cliff, this eastbound BNSF oil train is preparing to depart east. While DS-378 has set up a clear (green) signal out of Cliff, PTC is still showing a red. The engineer would log out of PTC and log back in, resolving the issue and allowing the oil train to depart eastbound.
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Running over seven hours late, the westbound Zephyr is trying to make up time as best it can, making track speed as it hustles through the OS at the west end of Cliff.
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The westbound Zephyr is meeting an eastbound BNSF oil train here at Cliff. For those that remember the west switch of Cliff in the pre-UP days, the switch was a "Y" switch. Both main and siding slightly diverged from the single main track. However, UP reconfigured the switch to be more traditional, with the mainline being straight and the siding truly diverging.
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The westbound Rocky Mountaineer crosses CO-72 at the east end of Cliff. Like so many siding, Cliff has a house track off the siding. The track is currently empty, but has about 1,000 feet of storage space, if it is needed.
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RMRX 8600 knocks down a clear (green) signal at the east switch of Cliff. The OS at the east switch of cliff is quite long, as there is a curve that obstructs the view. The eastbound signals are placed so they are visible from the grade crossing around the bend.
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RMRX 8020 is currently in North Yard for some mechanical work, so the blue long term lease unit, RMRX 8600, was brought out to lead the Rocky Mountaineer this morning. The train is just existing Tunnel 29 (out of sight around the bend), headed for the east switch of Cliff.
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As the westbound Zephyr rolls at track speed away from the camera at Crescent, we get nice view of the Continental Divide in the distance, as well as a good view of the dam at Gross Reservoir. Construction on the dam has been ongoing four about four years, as the dam is being raised by over 100 feet, a project that will triple the capacity of Gross Reservoir.
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I really like this particular perspective at Crescent, roughly halfway through the siding. The tracks come out of a nice little cut from the east, where the House Track starts. There are several nice (and right now, green) deciduous trees in the area as well.
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Near the east end of Crescent, the Zephyr is on the main and moving west at track speed. There are several residences in the area that, if you don't mind living a very rural life, would be quite nice.
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The longest Tunnel in the Tunnel District is Tunnel 17, which is 1,752 feet long, or roughly 1/3 of a mile long. The tunnel allows the tracks to leave South Draw, and connect with the open valley at Crescent, near Gross Reservoir. The westbound Zephyr is approach a clear (green) intermediate signal just east of Tunnel 17 on the approach to Crescent.
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The start pair of P42DCs lead the westbound Zephyr as it emerges from Tunnel 12 and approaches Tunnel 13 in South Draw in the Tunnel District.
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