The West Local is coming to a stop alongside Colorado Wood and Metal so the air brakes on the six hoppers the train picked up can be charged. That'll be necessary for the journey down the 8% grade back to the mainline, as well as on the mainline itself.
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The West Local passes by Colorado Wood and Metal, a business along the line that is not served by rail.
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An overview of Arcosa Lightweight, the "lightweight" aggregate plant located at the north end of the Rocky Spur. While the name has changed over the years, the plant itself has been here for decades.
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A couple of covered hoppers have to be shuffled around at the aggregate plant at the north end of the Rocky Spur. The West Local, with just a single GP40-2, is facilitating the moves.
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Passengers on the westbound Zephyr have a truly unique view as they look out over the plains this morning. A morning layer of fog has formed and is currently enveloping the entire Denver Metro area. Passengers looking out will essentially be looking out over the top of the clouds! This is something that usually only happens once or twice a year.
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The westbound Zephyr crosses the big fill west of Tunnel 2, through the cut, and heads in to Tunnel 3 near the east end of the Tunnel District.
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At the west end of Plain, just before ducking in to Tunnel 2, you can see just entirely enveloped the Denver-Metro area is this morning in a low hanging layer of fog. It is a truly beautiful sight to look out over the tops of the clouds.
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The weather in the Denver-Metro area is weird this morning. Once or twice a year, the ground is warm enough and the air cools enough overnight to create a layer of fog that entirely encompasses the area. Such is the case this morning as the westbound Zephyr climbs out of the fog and into the clear at Rainbow Cut.
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A pair of elephant-style GEs brings up the tail end of this eastbound loaded oil train on the main at Plain. The plains to the east are entirely obscured in a low fog layer this morning.
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A westbound oil empty crosses over the huge fill west of Tunnel 2 and is heading in to Tunnel 3 after meeting an eastbound loaded oil train at Plain.
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The West Local backs down the south leg of the wye on the Rocky Spur with a single covered hopper. GP40-2s are still pretty common in 2023, but it is really great to see GP15-1s are still roaming the rails as well. The Moffat mainline crosses the mountain in the background, from Tunnel 1 to Tunnel 8.
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The Lonely Local In the open space surrounding the former Rocky Flat plant, the West Local prepares to back down the south leg of the wye to the main track at Rocky. A single covered hopper is the only car the local is taking back to Denver on this Wednesday.
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Amongst the weeds, the West Local heads toward the east switch on the wye on the Rocky Spur. The brakeman stands ready to throw the switch to reverse down the south leg of the wye. Back in the distance, you can clearly see the mainline at East Plain.
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The West Local is on the north leg of the wye just south of the road that used to be the west entrance to Rocky Flats. If you know where to look in the background, you can see Tunnel 4 quite clearly on the mainline!
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The West Local starts around the north leg of the wye on the Rocky Flats Industrial Lead. It will soon back down the south leg on the right, and continue backing down the spur until it reaches the main track back at Rocky.
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