A nice treat this morning was to find Amtrak's Phase 4 heritage unit, AMTK 164, leading the westbound Zephyr as the train crosses East Portal Road between Tolland and East Portal. Fall colors are about as good as they are going to get, offering a spectacular ride for passengers.
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UP 5622 and two addition GEs are the sole power on this eastbound MGJNY, crossing over East Portal Road between East Portal and Tolland. The train will meet an already-waiting westbound Zephyr at Tolland.
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Unfortunately, it feels as though UP found one of the grungiest units to lead the MGJNY this morning as the train rolls through the east switch of East Portal. At least the flag decal is in really good shape, even if the paint behind it is practically faded to white.
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When it comes to rail photography (or outdoor photography in general), there is no better time to get out in the Colorado high country than the last week of September! An eastbound UP manifest has just emerged from the Moffat Tunnel and is rolling eastbound. James Peak and surrounding peaks have a dusting of snow, and fall colors are about at their peak.
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On a beautiful late-September morning, UP's thrice-weekly MGJNY has emerged from the Moffat Tunnel, passing by a work train that is currently tied down in the siding here at East Portal.
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Fall has descended on the Colorado high country, when some fantastic yellows up at the Moffat Tunnel, around 9,000 feet above sea level. There is a work train currently tied down (without power) in the siding. UP in investing a lot of time and money into maintenance for the Moffat in the coming months, including fresh ballast and many new ties.
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The Rocky Mountaineer is running west through the siding at Cliff, meeting a BNSF oil train that is on the main. DS-378 is keeping the oil train on the main to help it keep its speed up after the meet. The crew has less than two hours left on the clock. At this point, it is not clear if the train will be able to make it in to Denver or not.
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Lighting is not the best, but the westbound Rocky Mountaineer has taken the siding at Cliff to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train.
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It can be a bit of a challenge getting shots in the area around West Cliff as it is on the north side of a mountain and, as such, almost always cast in shadows. However, this shot of an eastbound BNSF oil train turned out quite well.
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BNSF 5830 leads a unit oil train across the South Beaver Creek Road grade crossing about a half mile west of Cliff. This road leads from CO-72 to Pacolus, a private neighborhood along the tracks and South Boulder Creek between Cliff and Rollins.
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In the canyon between Tolland and Rollins, this BNSF oil train is quickly rolling east at track speed. The crew is running short on time, with only two hours left to work. For now, the train is following South Boulder Creek and Tolland Road, trying to get as close to Denver as possible with the time left.
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BNSF 5830 and two additional GEs lead an eastbound loaded oil train across South Boulder Creek about a mile east of the east switch of Tolland. You could not ask for a more perfect morning on the last day of August, with barely a cloud in the sky. The peaks in the distance are the Continental Divide, which the Moffat Tunnel runs beneath.
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The westbound Zephyr has taken the siding at Tolland to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train, which is holding the main. In the distance, peaks of the Continental Divide extend above 12,000 feet above sea level, taking the tops above timber line.
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The passengers on the Northern Sky are getting a first class view of the Colorado high country. You can see a handful of them hanging out in the vista dome in the private car.
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AMTK 207 leads an on-time westbound Zephyr across South Boulder Creek, just east of Tolland. The train will be taking the siding at Tolland to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train, which is already waiting on the main. The Zephyr will be taking the siding as DS-378 is trying to keep the oil train moving as it's crew is short on time.
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