This is definitely the kind of shot that needs to be in black and white. My dad managed to get roster shots of nearly ever Rio Grande unit back in the late 1970's and early 1980's. He always shot in black and white, so even with the UP patch, this reminds me of those shots.
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Kind of looks like some futuristic science fiction train, doesn't it? It reality, these are simply wind turbine blades being transported to northern Colorado for a wind farm.
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Not far north of La Salle and the Ski Train crosses over the South Platte River. Once again I conveniently cropped out the UP pilot leader!
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In La Salle, we find all things that were once Rio Grande. Okay, technically the Tempo Ski Train cars weren't apart of Rio Grande, but we'll let that technicality slide!
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Seeing as how the Ski Train is being transported to Canada to become a part of Algoma Central Railway, this shot underneath the quickly-flying American Flag seemed somewhat appropriate!
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While waiting for the Ski Train in La Salle, I thought this shot of a patched Rio Grande GP40 and a "triclops" UP SD60M made for a nice shot!
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A last roster shot of the three F40PH's as the Ski Train pulls into La Salle.
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This is a picture that had to come sooner or later. It is very likely that this will be the last picture I ever post on my website (in the 21st Century anyway) of an unpatched Rio Grande unit on a mainline (instead of in a museum). DRGW 5371 heads north on the MNYNP-08 to Cheyenne, where it will presumably be retired....farewell old friend!
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At the south switch of La Salle, the northbound MNYNP-08 has a clear signal as it continues to charge north toward Cheyenne. Once in Cheyenne, the sixth unit (DRGW 5371) will be set out, presumably so it can be officially retired. Where it goes from there, nobody but UP is certain for now!
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This was on my favorite Grande geeps to end up getting a patch. UP 1348 (ex-DRGW 3126) still has a full light package (MARS and Class lights) as well as the horn over the cab!
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While I'm not crazy about the patch on the cab as well as on the nose, it is always nice to find a patched Grande unit. Rather amazing really considering it had been nearly twenty years since the Grande disappeared at the time of this shot!
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UP 1352 was the last Rio Grande GP40-2 in the 30xx number range to get a patch. It's already been nearly two years, but UP 1352 was DRGW 3097 not long ago. On this Sunday, the geep was sitting shutdown in the yard at La Salle.
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Having been sworn in earlier in the week, Governor Bill Ritter took a chartered train from Greeley to Pueblo, making whistle stops at Brighton, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Here, UP 4898 leads the special south at the north end of La Salle.
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A northbound manifest (the MNYNP-09) sits in the siding at La Salle near the depot. The train, led by two SD9043MAC's, is waiting for a southbound Z-Train which is just north of Greeley. The train is stopped near the depot to keep from blocking crossing in La Salle. Three UP SD40-2s idle away in the yard awaiting local duty.
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Rio Grande GP40-2 #3109 sits in its original paint with an as-delivered light package (with the exception of the ditch lights of course).
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