Just 12 minutes after the sun rose over the eastern horizon, the first Winter Park Express (Ski Train) of the 2024 season charges west between Leyden and Rocky. Just like last year, this year's Ski Train consists of a pair of P42DCs, four coaches, and a lounge car (spliced between the four coaches).
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The two lead units on an eastbound coal train pass by the metal monstrosity that was built about 50 years ago, having something to do with mining in the area.
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An SD70ACe and a C44ACM both sport UP's newest paint scheme as of 2023. The huge flag, which has been a prominent feature of the scheme for two decades, is no longer on the long hood, but instead is much smaller on either side of the nose. Additionally, and unfortunately in my opinion, the wings have also been removed from the nose.
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An eastbound coal load approach what remains of the turnout to the long defunct Chem Spur. The sole customer on the spur, Mesa Oil, moved to a new location in Denver about a decade ago when UP dropped service from twice a week to once a week. Once that happened and there were no longer customers on the spur, UP removed from the frog and it has been out of service ever since.
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Four GEs lead an eastbound UP coal load past the intermediate at MP 14.6. Coal trains typically have a 2x3x1 configuration. However, those coal trains are typically 105-110 cars. This coal train is only 78 cars, so the power is set up in a 4x2 configuration.
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The last coach on the morning Zephyr is sporting a wrap advertising a sponsor from last year's Winter Park Express. The train is westbound at the intermedia signal at MP 14.5, just west of Leyden.
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Clouds hang over the Colorado Rockies to the west as an eastbound BNSF manifest glides east on the main between Rocky and Leyden. The quantity of light in summer is great, with early sunrises and late sunsets, but the quality of light in the winter is so fantastic, with low light and long shadows.
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The morning Zephyr passes by the switch that used to allow access to Chem Spur. The spur hasn't been used in close to a decade, and in 2017, UP removed the frog for this turnout. It allows for a smoother, safer ride for any train crossing over it. Such as the passengers riding on the Zephyr here.
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Chem spur has not been used in nearly a decade, ever since Mesa Oil moved to a new location in Denver. To smooth out the ride and reduce the risk of a derailment, UP removed the frog from the turnout in 2017. As you can clearly see, the remainder of the spur is not entirely inaccessible by rail.
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For many decades, there was a small industry (most recently named Mesa Oil) off the Moffat Main at Chem Spur. Mesa Oil moved nearly a decade ago, leaving the spur with no purpose. In 2017, UP has removed the frog at the turnout, making the spur now impossible to access.
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An ES44DC, an SD70M, and an AC4400CW lead the eastbound MGJNY-08 toward Leyden. Great to see the train in the afternoon as it typically arrives in Denver at or before dawn. Afternoon clouds are building!
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A look at the intermediate signal at MP 14.5 and the large antenna array next to it. The antenna is part of the PTC system in place on the Moffat. PTC stands for Positive Train Control and uses a combination of radio and satellite to ensure better safety for trains on the rails.
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A single DPU bring up the end of this eastbound manifest. This unit is now designated as an C44ACM. It is an AC4400CW that has undergone some rebuilding by UP. This particular unit actually started out life in 1995 as SP 305!
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The weather has been overcast and rainy all day long, which is something of rarity (in general) along the Front Range. However, this has been one of the wettest springs in recorded history in the area! An eastbound manifest, led by a pair of GEs, rolls by, uninhibited by the falling rain and low clouds.
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An eastbound manifest with a long strand of coal hoppers on the head end passes by an Advanced Approach (flashing yellow) signal at MP 14.6. The weather is preventing the dispatcher from getting a signal set up at East Leyden. The train will ultimately have to be flagged past a red signal at East Leyden.
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