A new take on a common location: Barbara's Gulch. Until recently, this shot would have required a fair amount of hiking. However, with the community of Leyden Rock under construction, you can get this shot from 87th Drive. In the shot, an eastbound unit oil train is coming up to the east end of Barbara's Gulch.
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It is a beautiful August afternoon as the westbound Zephyr, with nine Superliners, decelerates as it approaches the west end of Barbara's Gulch. The track curvature is about to increase which mean train speeds must decrease.
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Leaving the urban scene behind, the westbound Zephyr is charging west (in and out of shadows) through Barbara's Gulch. It is a very dead Sunday on the Moffat and the four hour late Zephyr won't see another train until the west side of the Moffat Tunnel.
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UP 1982 is rolling very slowly through the west end of Barbara's Gulch. The train had an Approach (yellow) signal leading up to the east end of Rocky. The train is following a BNSF manifest that held the main at Rocky while waiting for an eastbound that took the siding. This would end up being the only shot of the day in which the clouds cooperated and gave me some direct sunlight for UP 1982.
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My youngest daughter, now eight years old, waves to the passing westbound coal empty along with one of her friends. The crew was more than happy to offer up a hardy horn blast in acknowledgement!
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The lead unit on this westbound coal empty was once a 6000HP AC6000CW. However, once the clamoring for high-horsepower ended, UP replaced the prime movers in their AC6000CWs with standard 4400HP 12-cylinder FDLs. This unit, leading a North Fork bound coal train is now designated a C44/60AC.
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A westbound coal empty headed for the North Fork branch rounds the curve in Barbara's Gulch on the approach to Rocky. Three of the six units on the head end will be set out at Glenwood Springs to be used for mid-train swing helpers on an eastbound.
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If the decision were mine to make, I'd bring back Amtrak's Phase III scheme and apply it to all the P40s and P42s on Amtrak's roster, exactly as seen here. I grew up riding Amtrak in the 1980s when Phase III dominated. But there are plenty of people that prefer anyone of the other phases...including the current Phase V scheme. What is your favorite of Amtrak's schemes? Leave a comment and let us know!
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The westbound Zephyr, with Phase III (Heritage) P40 #822, makes its way through Barbara's Gulch as the sun works to finally rise above gloomy overcast eastern skies.
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Personally, I think Amtrak's Phase III paint scheme was the best scheme Amtrak ever had. I also think that the reinterpreted Phase III scheme that has been applied to two units (AMTK 145 and AMTK 822) looks amazing. AMTK 822 was on the point of the Zephyr on this morning...I sure wish this is what ever P40 and P42 looked like when it rounded a corner!
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The westbound Zephyr departed Denver on time on this morning...and with a bit of a treat! AMTK 822, painted in Phase III colors to celebrate Amtrak's 40th birthday, was on the point!
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