AMTK 157 looks to have suffered from scratched pain on its nose. It and AMTK 25 are leading the Zephyr west out of Rocky, digging into the nearly 2% grade.
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AMTK 22 and AMTK 30 have the duty to lead the westbound Zephyr this morning. The train is wrapping around the east edge of Big Ten Loop, passing by the open hoppers that serve as a wind break.
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After getting some help from UP MOW to get the west switch of Rocky thrown, the train is on the move again climbing Big Ten. The train departed Denver about 45 minutes late, but dealing with the switch at Rocky and a few speed restriction would result in the train being about 90 minutes late when it reaches Fraser.
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Alas, five minutes after the Zephyr came through this scene, the sun broke out through the clouds. Alas, that's the way things break sometimes. Regardless, in the shot here we get a good look at the work Union Pacific has done on Big Ten Loop. A lot of rock has been added to reinforce the tracks on the grade here.
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AMTK 51 and AMTK 14 lead the westbound Zephyr by the recent construction site on Big Ten, where Union Pacific spent a few weeks putting new rock down to reinforce the grade here on the north end of Big Ten Curve.
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Always like trying to get a roster shot of a foreign visitor in the area. Particularly when it is a visitor from the south or north of the border! Second out on this westbound oil train is a Ferromex SD70ACe. Ferromex, of course, is one of the two largest railroads in Mexico.
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Last week, UP officially wrapped up a majority of the construction on Big Ten and reopened the mainline between switches at Rocky. There is still some minor work happening, but all the speed restrictions have been lifted. This NS/BNSF oil train climbs the north edge at track speed.
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It seems that a business east of the Mississippi has a contract with the Wash oil loadout. The train originates on Norfolk Southern and is turned over to BNSF. However, most of the time, the train has been running with at least a few NS units all the way to the oil transloaded facility. On this particular day, an interesting NS/FXE/NS trio lead the train.
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Union Pacific maintenance has a small line of earth movers setup and ready to go to work, placing the riprap that has been dumped along the tracks. UP started this project about two weeks ago, after a minor derailment in the area. It looks like the project will likely last a few more weeks.
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UP 7850 is slowly descending down the north edge of Big Ten Curve, passing by several UP maintenance crews. UP has placed a lot of riprap rock to help shore up the track here. Indeed, work is ongoing and more rock will be placed in the coming days and weeks.
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UP 7850 and train pass by the weather station that UP has setup on the southeast side of Big Ten Curve. The thrice-weekly manifest is (relatively) light today, so three units on the head end are sufficient power for the train.
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On the southeast edge of Big Ten Curve, there is a solar-powered weather station setup. The weather station includes an anemometer, which reports the wind speed to UP's headquarters back in Omaha. If wind speeds are too high, UP will issue a 10 MPH slow order around Big Ten Curve.
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In this classic perspective from East Rocky, UP's thrice-weekly MGJNY leaves the siding at Rocky on its way east. The train is going to stop at the east switch of Leyden for a crew change. The current crew doesn't quite have enough time left on the clock to reliably make it to North Yard.
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UP has mobilized several earth movers here on Big Ten between Rocky and the top of the curve. UP is using these large boulders to reinforce the grade and shore up the track.
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A single AC4400CW brings up the back of UP's MJGNY as it rolls by the construction zone on Big Ten Curve. This particular AC4400CW was originally delivered in scarlet and gray as SP 207 in 1995.
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