I really love seeing an Amtrak heritage unit leading on any Amtrak train. A wonderful "flash from the past". AMTK 161, the Phase 1 Heritage P42DC reminds me of the very early days of Amtrak when SDP40s wearing the Pointless Arrow scheme ruled on long distance trains.
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The westbound Zephyr is just about to poke its nose out of Tunnel 3. Savvy Amtrak fans might note that the "Amtrak" on the nose is not the normal one on Phase 5 units. This is indeed AMTK 161, the Phase 1 Heritage unit sporting the bloody nose and classic Amtrak font.
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As the westbound Zephyr emerges from Tunnel 2 in the Lower Tunnel District, we see the west portal of Tunnel 3 in the foreground, from which the Zephyr will also emerge from in less than a minute.
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UP 7051 leads five other units (two EMDs and three GEs) in and out of Tunnel 4 about a mile west of Plain. Part of the sheer rock of the Flatirons rises dominantly in the background.
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The Beer Run is temporarily stopped to make sure switches are aligned to allow the train to continue in to the lower yard at Coors. The Brewery is located in between North and South Table Mountains along Clear Creek.
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BNSF 1826 has a very interesting patch job. Not exactly sure what the history is behind this patch. BNSF is, in generally, very good at patching the paint color of the location the patch is applied when it is applied. This SD40-2 will be used on the Golden Switch in the coming week(s).
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BNSF's Beer Run is descending a fill down from the Golden Sub in to the lower yard at Coors. A pair of SD70s (an SD70ACe and an SD70MAC) lead a pair of SD40-2s and the train. The SD40-2s will be power for the Golden Switch, a local that runs east out of Golden.
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BNSF 9124 and BNSF 9709 lead the BNSF Beer Run across Colorado Highway 58. The train is slowly descending down a grade that will take it down to the same elevation as the highway so it can enter in to the lower yard at Coors.
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The westbound Beer Run is stopped at Terrel Jct, waiting for clearance to enter in to the lower yard at Golden. About 25 of the 50 or so on the train will be taken down to the lower yard. The remaining cars will sit on the track here (east of Terrel Jct) until they can be taken to the upper yard.
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The Beer Run approach the switch at Terrill Jct. There are two separate yards in Golden, the "lower yard" and the "upper yard". This switch here at Terrill Jct determines which of the two yards trains will enter. The switch is currently lined for the upper yard, but the crew will throw the switch to enter the lower yard.
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The westbound Zephyr departs from the west end of Plain, about 25 miles west of Denver Union Station, ready to make its way through the Tunnel District on its journey west.
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The West Local is about to pick up one more covered hopper, sitting on the south leg of the wye on the Rocky Spur. After picking it up and charging air in the car, the train will return back south on the spur to the mainline at Rocky.
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As a single GP40-2 prepares to back down the south leg of the wye on the Rocky Spur, picking up a 7th covered hopper, you can see where the Moffat Mainline runs along the Rockies in the distance. Plainview runs left-to-right across the scene on the mountain toward the left.
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A single covered hopper sits on the south leg of wye on the Rocky Spur as the West Local pulls east down the north leg of the wye. This lone hopper will be added to the six the train already has in tow for the trip back to Denver.
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The West Local heads around the north leg of the wye on the Rocky Spur. This will allow the train to back down the south leg of the wye and continue to back down the spur all the way to the mainline.
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