A pair of ES44C4s lead a westbound oil train out of Rocky, climbing up toward Big Ten Loop. While you obviously cannot tell from a still photo, the train was creeping along at 10 MPH (due to a slow order) around Big Ten. The slow order was supposedly for high winds, but there was barely a breeze out at this time.
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An ES44AC, an SD70M, and a AC4400CW lead an eastbound manifest down Big Ten toward a clear signal at West Rocky. UP has started cutting up unit coal trains (that load on the North Fork Branch) and add 20-30 cars to the head end of eastbound manifests, as seen here.
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About a year ago, UP eliminated the manifest trains between Denver and Salt Lake (over the Moffat). They do, however, still run manifests between Denver and Grand Junction. The eastbound (MGJNY) is coming around Big Ten Loop on it way in to Denver. With PSR (Precision Scheduled Railroading) in place, some of the cars on this train are actually headed for Salt Lake City!
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The MGJNY is leaving Eisele behind and is approaching Big Ten Curve on its journey east toward North Yard. It will soon be heading toward the camera on the track to the left as it approaches West Rocky.
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A trio of SD70s of various flavors round the curve at Big Ten. The units are leading a 6,700-foot long MRONY! It is likely to be the final MRONY as UP is shifting is Colorado/Utah freight traffic to the Overland Route through Wyoming.
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Missouri Pacific's screaming eagle looks mighty fine on the side of UP 1982 as it leads an eastbound coal load around Big Ten Curve. You can see some of the hoppers on the inside of the curve that serve as a windbreak. Many of them have fallen victim to taggers over the years.
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After passing through Eisele and wrapping around the main part of Big Ten Curve, the eastbound Zephyr is now descending down toward a clear signal at Rocky.
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An eastbound BNSF bare table train, led by a trio of ES44s, makes its way around Big Ten Curve. The train is lined in at Rocky and will tie down there as the crew is getting close to their hours of service.
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An eastbound coal load slowly winds its way around the Big Ten Curve. There is a 10 MPH slow order on the curve on this day, as the wind has kicked up and there are mighty strong gusts. Any time that is the case, UP issues a 10 MPH slow order...while the hoppers on the inside of the curve do serve as a windbreak, UP would rather play it safe than sorry.
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Heat radiates off the ES44AC and SD70M leading this MRONY (Manifest, Roper, UT to North Yard, CO) around Big Ten Curve. Note the hoppers on the inside of the curve. Those hoppers have been there as a windbreak for over forty years now.
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A dozen units round Big Ten Curve on their journey east toward Denver. Denver will only be a temporary stop, however, as eight of these units are headed for North Platte, NE. The reason? Most likely either for long term storage or to be sold at auction.
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A trio of elephant-style SD70s work hard to pull a westbound loaded sand train up and around Big Ten Curve.
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Just a minute or so earlier, this eastbound BNSF special was on the upper track in this shot, moving from right to left. After going around Big Ten Curve, it is now approaching a clear signal at Rocky and moving left to right.
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An eastbound BNSF officer's special wraps around the hoppers on Big Ten Curve. The sun was playing a little hide and seek with the clouds, but fortunately came out for the shot on the curve.
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