Union Pacific has a daily slow order around Big Ten Curve between 10am and 6pm due to high heat and the concern of sun kinks. Since that 10 MPH slow order went in to effect 20 minutes earlier, the Zephyr is slow climbing up the north leg of Big Ten Curve.
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Just minutes after existing Eisele (Clay) heading geographically south above, this oil train has made the long 180° turn around Big Ten Loop and is now headed geographically north on the approach to the west switch of Rocky.
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A mixed match set of P42DCs (one Phase 5, one Phase 7) leading the westbound Zephyr on the climb to Big Ten Loop on a beautiful Thursday morning in May.
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The newest P42DC to be repainted in Amtrak's newest (Phase 7) paint scheme leads the westbound Zephyr on a beautiful Memorial Day morning, climbing up the north side of Big Ten Curve.
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The westbound Rocky Mountaineer makes its way around Big Ten Curve, rolling slow due to a 10 MPH slow order. In the background, you can see an eastbound BNSF manifest (with a KCSM unit third out) tied down in the siding in the distance.
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The hoppers on the inside of Big Ten Curve, that serve as a wind break, have definitely become the victim of graffiti in recent years. Passengers on the westbound Zephyr will be able to look out to the hoppers on the right side, or over to the great plains out the left side. You can see the west end of Eisele (Clay), as well as Tunnel 1, in the distance.
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Partly cloudy skies have shadows floating across the landscape as the westbound Zephyr climbs up toward Big Ten Curve. It has been a bit of a chilly spring, but things are warming up. It is a very pleasant 55°F this mid-May morning.
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AMTK 180 throttles up and kicks up some exhaust as the train makes its way up the 2% grade on the north edge of Big Ten Curve.
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The morning cloud cover helps to get some different perspectives in the area around Big Ten. Case-in-point is this view from the north side of the tracks as the morning Zephyr climbs the north edge of Big Ten Curve.
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The Friday westbound Zephyr, with a typical consists of seven Superliners (led by a pair of P42DCs), climbs up a relatively green Big Ten Curve. Note the tracks at Eisele (Clay) above in the distance, where this train will be (in the next picture).
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Well, unfortunately, for the third run of the 2024 season, the Rocky Mountaineer has a pair of leased SD70Ms from Union Pacific. Not exactly sure what happened with the GP40-3s. Also not sure why the leased power from Horizon Rail was not used. Regardless, overall the two SD70Ms in use do look pretty good overall on the climb up to Big Ten.
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UP 5284 leads a westbound oil train around the outside of Big Ten Curve. You can just see part of the wind break hoppers on the inside of the curve. In the summer, it is pretty common to have totally clear skies in the morning with clouds and thunderstorms in the afternoons. However, on the first day of May, it is still very spring-like and some partly cloud skies are around this morning.
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A pair of ES44ACs, with an SD70ACe sandwiched between, lead a westbound empty oil train up the north edge of Big Ten Curve as some clouds rolls in from the Rockies, headed for the plains.
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The FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) inspects the tracks off the Class 1 railroads (and maybe smaller railroads as well...I'm not sure). Looks like today it is the Moffat's turn to get the inspection. UP 6060 has a gondola and FRA inspection car in tow.
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UP 6060 has a gondola and an FRA inspection car in tow just west of the west switch of Rocky, starting up toward Big Ten.
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