After getting the switch at west Rollins clear of snow and ice, UP 1989 and crew met an eastbound coal load, seen here taking the siding at Rollins. UP 1989 was originally going to meet the train at Tolland, but a frozen switch at west Rollins changes the location of the meet.
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Ahh, the not-so-glamorous side of railroading! With the switch heater out of order at the west switch of Rollins, the conductor had to use a pick to clear the switch points of snow and ice. After throwing the switch a few times by hand, DS-82 was again able to throw the switch remotely from her desk 500 miles away in Omaha, NE.
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I was very lucky to be able to get this shot. The Snow Bus was running well ahead of me (hindered by slow speeds on icy roads). However, the switch heater at west Rollins was not working and the switch was out of correspondence. UP 1989 had to stop so the conductor could walk up to the switch and swing/pick the snow out of the switch points, allowing me to grab a couple of nice shots, like this one.
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After a good run up the hill from Denver, it is time to sit for awhile! This westbound coal empty is in the hole at Rollins and will have to wait not only for the Ski Train, but for the eastbound Zephyr as well.
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UP's daily North Yard, CO to Roper, UT manifest is running heavy on the General Electric at Rollins! The first two units are working, but the trailing six are either idle or dead in consist. Those six units will be set out at Glenwood Springs as mid-train swing helpers.
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An eastbound coal load headed for Superior, WI passes over the west switch at Rollins to meet a westbound coal empty currently sitting on the siding.
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There's not a lot of daylight left as this westbound coal empty moves up the siding at Rollins. The empty will actually be moving across the Utah desert toward the CV Spur.
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Within the past few months, Union Pacific removed the code line along the tracks opening up several new photo angles. Once such angle here sees the MNYRO working west about a half mile away from the west end of the siding.
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The westbound California Zephyrs picks up a little speeds as it leaves Rollins behind on an Advanced Approach signal. Three private cars bring up the rear of the train on this day. That last car was once owned and operated by Frisco.
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Amtrak was running over two hours late when it departed Denver. CTC problems at west Cliff and east Rollins didn't help the issue! Here, the train is running at restricted speed (through the fog) as it comes up to an Advanced Approach (flashing yellow) signal.
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Don't attempt to adjust your monitor! At the time of this shot, only 37 unpatched Espee units remained, and I was lucky enough to come across this SD40M-2, the fourth unit on the MNYRO-27. The rebuilt SD45 along with the SD40T-2 behind it are on their way to Ogden, UT where they will be placed in "long term storage".
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A very heavy, slow-moving westbound MNYRO climbs its way into Rollins. This train got my attention for the day (and I let several other cool train go as a result) due to the fourth unit. It is one of the only unpatched Espee units left, an SD40M-2 (SP 8613).
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Running a couple of hours late, the westbound California Zephyr comes around the corner and into beautiful downtown Rollins! With slightly cooler temperatures and slightly higher precipitation levels, there is a lot of green to be found up at altitude.
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About halfway through the siding at Cliff, the track cross South Boulder Creek on a wooden trestle. The Kansas, on the end of the train, is crossing on the bridge in this shot. Unfortunately, a few of the Aspens have grown tall enough to obscure a bit of the view here.
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The Ski Train makes its third westbound run to Winter Park of the summer. At Cliff, the train meets the eastbound MRONY (in the siding). The tracks also parallel Colorado Highway 72 for much of the journey through the block. The train is about halfway through the block at this point.
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