This southbound grain train had been tied down at Denver and was originally not supposed to be called until around 5:45pm. However, BNSF changed things up and it was called at 11am! I was up at Crescent when I got the news, and I immediately headed south so i could get some shots of the northern visitor.
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This westbound BNSF unit oil train has a single ES44AC "sticker" unit bringing up the rear of the train. BNSF is the only US Class 1 railroad that has not done a true heritage unit. However, in 2020, for the 25th anniversary of the creation of BNSF, they released several of these anniversary units with stickers of the key railroads that went into making BNSF. Not exactly a true heritage unit, but better than nothing!
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A westbound BNSF oil empty heads west in the OS at Pecos. The train was recrewed south of Denver on the Joint Line and came across UP Main 1 at Prospect to get to the Moffat, completely bypassing BNSF's actual yard in Denver.
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In between the running of trains, railroads have a rather large contingent of maintenance personnel. Many of them use hi-rail trucks to drive on the rails and ensure the track is in shape. One such UP MOW hi-rail truck is headed east on Bypass 2 in the OS at Pecos, headed for Broadway.
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There is a smattering of power hanging out in North Yard this morning. A fairly common view for 2025, all-in-all. Off in the distance on the switch lead is a remote switching job.
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The Zephyr has the typical post-COVID consist with a pair of P42s, a baggage car, and seven Superliners. The train is in the OS at C&S Junction and is crossing over Federal Blvd.
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The westbound Zephyr passes underneath the signal bridge at C&S Junction, about to cross over Federal Blvd, changing from Main 3 to Main 2. The train is running right on time for its morning trip west.
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A trio of GEs bring up the tail end of this eastbound BNSF oil train as it roles east, away from the camera, on Main 1 toward BNSF's 31st Street Yard.
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One of three DPUs on an eastbound oil train included a BNSF "sticker unit". Of the four big US Class 1 Railroads, BNSF is the only railroad that hasn't done any true heritage units. The closest they have come is with several of these units that have stickers of predecessor railroads on the long hood. These were released in 2020, the 25th anniversary of BNSF.
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After meeting the westbound Zephyr between Tennyson and Lamar, BNSF 6158 is now back on the roll, heading east on Main 1. The train has a Diverging Advanced Approach (red over flashing yellow) ahead at C&S Junction. There, the train will cross over from Main 1 to Main 3 so it reach BNSF's yard.
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The westbound Zephyr meets an eastbound BNSF unit oil train here just west of Tennyson Street. While there is a siding here, it is not a CTC-controlled siding and it is not used for meets. Instead, the oil train is stopped on Main 1 while the Zephyr heads west on Main 2.
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AMTK 58 and AMTK 56 have the duty of running with the westbound California Zephyr on this Monday morning. The train is passing alongside Clear Valley Park to the south (right) and a mostly frozen over Jim Baker Reservoir to the north (left).
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The morning westbound Zephyr made good time getting out of Denver and is just slightly ahead of schedule here, just west of C&S Jct on Main 2. Indeed, the crew is trying to keep up the good performance, exhaust pouring out of the P42DCs as the engineer throttles up. The track to the right is BNSF's Golden Sub, which runs to (among many other things), the Coors Brewery in Golden.
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45 minutes after passing by the hotbox detector at MP 22.6, this eastbound BNSF unit oil train has come to a stop on Main 1 west of Tennyson Street around MP 6. Most trains can fit between Tennyson Street and Lamar Street here, so it is fairly common stopping place if trains cannot proceed east to the yards for whatever reason. In this case, the oil train is waiting on the westbound Zephyr.
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The Winter Park Express, from which this picture was taken, is pulling across the Buck Lead, departing to the west. The westbound California Zephyr is running on time, and waiting for the Winter Park Express to clear so it can make its reverse move into Union Station.
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