The "48" has almost entirely worn off the side of the P42DC, the last unit on the Zephyr this morning. The paint scheme overall is looking a bit shoddy, and it seems like AMTK 48 would be a good candidate for a repaint in to the new Phase 7 scheme sooner rather than later.
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A UP C44AC-CTE, now rebuilt as a C44ACM, is leading the westbound Zephyr on an afternoon that brought some much needed moisture and cooler temperatures to the area. There has been no significant rain in weeks, and temperatures have been well into the 90°Fs (32°Cs). Today, the temperature is very pleasant 60°F (15°C).
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The westbound Zephyr arrived in Denver a little over two hours late, and ended up getting delayed another hour in town when it stopped to pick up a UP unit as a new leader, likely due to a mechanical issue with one of the P42DCs.
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RMRX 8021 and RMRX 8020 lead the Rocky Mountaineer west on Main 1, getting ready to pass underneath the RTD Commuter Rail Gold Line. 20 years ago, only two tracks were in this shot. UP's Moffat Tunnel main and BNSF's Golden branch line. Today, seven tracks are in the shot, including the commuter tracks.
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After a couple weeks off, the Rocky Mountaineer is running again, heading west underneath the Sheridan Blvd overpass on the eastern edge of Arvada. The GP40-3s are back on the train, although they are certainly kicking up quite a bit of exhaust as they head west on Main 1. Other tracks in the shot include Main 2, the Arvada siding, and BNSF's Golden Sub on the far right.
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A pair of P42DCs (both in Phase 5) are power on a typical Zephyr consist this morning as the train passes by Oberon Lake #1 in Arvada. The Zephyr is roughly halfway between the control point at Arvada (CP DS007) and the east switch of Leyden (CP DS012).
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Crossing 66th Avenue, the westbound Zephyr is running right on time as it navigates its way through the residential Denver suburb of Arvada. Arvada has a few areas of commercial zoning, but the vast majority of the city of 120,000 citizens is filled with houses.
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The westbound Zephyr approaches the grade crossing at 66th Avenue in Arvada. With the morning Zephyr generally headed away from the sun, this short stretch of track by 66th Avenue is one of the best places for a reasonably lit (not backlit) shot as the tracks run (more or less) geographically north here.
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Two older C44-9Ws serve as DPUs on the tail end of this westbound HDENPVO (high priority manifest from Denver, CO to Provo, UT). The paint is a bit charred on the long hood of BNSF 5265, still sporting the Heritage 2 scheme. Downtown Denver is now being cast in some direct sunlight amid some afternoon thunderstorms roaming the area.
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BNSF's Denver-Provo has the typical 3x2 units for power, but the specific units are anything but typical! Only one of the five units has the New Image scheme. The end DPUs sport the original Heritage and Heritage 2 schemes. A KCS de Mexico (in gray) and KCS Retro-Belle are on the point, approaching the east end of Eisele (Clay).
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An interesting trio of GEs lead BNSF's westbound Denver to Provo manifest on the south edge of Big Ten Curve this evening, as there is some nice storm light to the southeast out toward downtown Denver. BNSF 6314, an ES44C4, leads a KCS de Mexico (in gray, no less) AC4400CW, and a KCS ES44AC on the train.
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BNSF's Denver-Provo manifest typically has more tank cars than anything else, and this evening's train is no exception. The train is climbing out of Rocky, along the north edge of Big Ten Curve in some wonderful evening sunlight. A BNSF ES44C4 and two KCS units, elephant-style, are the power today.
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A lot of the storm clouds have, at least temporarily, cleared out and the sun is shining near West Rocky as BNSF's Denver-Provo makes its way west. The train was projected to be called at 10am, but it ended up taking quite a bit longer before it was actually called. There is some colorful power on the headend of the train this evening.
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There is a break in the afternoon storms and, indeed, a break in the clouds downtown is allowing some direct sunlight on the skyline as a BNSF manifest heads west out of Leyden, starting the journey to Provo, UT.
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The evening Zephyr departs the east end of Rocky and enters into the narrow west end of Barbara's Gulch.
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