The westbound Zephyr starts the climb up Big Ten Curve. I decided to take three shots of the Zephyr this morning from this same perspective. To see the next shot, you can click here.
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The morning Zephyr meets an eastbound oil train at Rocky. DS-378 has already set up a clear (green) signal at the east end of Rocky, and the train is getting ready to continue to Denver. Meanwhile, the Zephyr passes by the seldom-used Rocky Spur (or Rocky Flats Industrial Lead).
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The morning Zephyr is running right on time today, as it rolls west through Barbara's Gulch. An eastbound oil train awaits the Zephyr in the siding at Rocky. Fortunately, DS-378 set up a good meet, and the oil train is already clear of the west switch, so the Zephyr will not be delayed.
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An SD70ACe leads an eastbound loaded oil train in the siding at Rocky. DS-378 has set up a great meet with the westbound Zephyr, which is just to the east, entering Barbara's Gulch right now. After the meet, the oil train will continue east to Denver.
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The Rocky Mountaineer's Rockies to the Red Rocks is only making one trip west per week between Denver and Moab throughout the month of August. In the high heat of the summer, demand for the Mountaineer is decreased, so the train does not run Sunday through Tuesday. It only runs Wednesday through Friday. This morning, the Mountaineer has its GP40-3s and is making track speed.
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On a beautiful Wednesday morning, AMTK 203 and AMTK 151 lead the morning Zephyr west toward the east portal of Tunnel 1. It is already 80°F (27°C) this morning, with high temperatures expected to head toward 95°F (35°C) in the afternoon. Power on the Zephyr has been pretty "regular" of late, meaning the standard Phase 5 P42DCs. Nice to see something in a different scheme today.
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In the past few weeks, UP has had a splattering of slow orders on the Moffat, likely for various maintenance of way projects. One has been up and around Big Ten Curve. However, the slow order was gone this morning and the Zephyr has been able to maintain track speed since passing North Yard.
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An UP MOW crew, consisting of a hyrail truck and a hyrail dump truck, are sitting in the siding at Eisele (Clay) as the morning westbound Zephyr rolls by at track speed, right on time. AMTK 203, the Operation Lifesaver unit, is on the point this today.
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It has been a few months, but AMTK 203 is on the California Zephyr again. The last few trips, it was the second unit. But this morning, it is back on the point of the train.
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The westbound morning Zephyr has turned into a westbound afternoon Zephyr as it turns geographically north at the east switch of Eisele (Clay). Being six hours late, there is a small chance it might have met its counterpart on the east side of the Moffat. However, as it turns out, the eastbound Zephyr is just as late! It will end up departing Glenwood Springs six hours late as well.
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The westbound Zephyr was delayed over four hours in Nebraska, due to a "mechanical issue", according to Amtrak. Not sure precisely what the mechanical issue was, but due to that and a few other delays, the Zephyr is six hours late as it rounds the bend on the approach to Eisele (Clay).
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The westbound Zephyr is getting nearing the end of a 10 MPH slow order and, as a result, both P42DCs are throttling up and they both kick up a bit of exhaust. The Zephyr is on the south edge of Big Ten, and is headed into the afternoon light. A bit unusual to have these lighting conditions for the westbound Zephyr, but it is running six hours late.
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The westbound Zephyr has slowed to about 10 MPH to comply with one of many slow orders that have been established on the Moffat in the past few weeks. This afternoon, there are some fast-moving clouds, with shadows moving quickly through the scene. Fortunately, this shot was taken just before the shadow at the top fully encompassed the scene.
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The westbound Zephyr is running six hours late this morning as it heads west out of Leyden on a sunny afternoon. The first Superliner behind the baggage car is the crew car (the transition sleeper). Looks like a crew member is catching a bit of fresh air.
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One final look at the eastbound Amtrak special as it makes its way through Barbara's Gulch eastbound. Was pretty cool to see the Amtrak Cascades trainset here in Colorado. The trainset is headed to Pueblo for testing at the TTC. After testing is complete, when the trainset is ready to head to the Pacific Northwest, it might just head back west on the Moffat...
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