AMTK 75 and AMTK 59 lead the Winter Park Express westbound on the main at Eisele (Clay). Since the Amtrak started running the Winter Park Express in 2017, it has never had more than 40 trips in a season. However, thanks in large part to the government of Colorado, it will have 69 trips for the 2024-2025 season. Reports indicate that the train has largely been sold out.
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AMTK 51 and AMTK 157, running elephant-style, lead the westbound Zephyr through Eisele (Clay) precisely on time, if not a few minutes early.
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Thanks to the angle of the sun this morning, black and white just felt right for the Zephyr, heading west on the main at Eisele (Clay) right on time.
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I cannot see much of the tracks from my current vantage point, but I can see just enough to catch the two P42DCs and baggage car as the California Zephyr makes its way west just west of the CO-72 overpass at the base of Coal Creek Canyon.
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While the engineer works with the PTC Help Desk to resolve a PTC issue, the conductors trek their way through snow in -2°F (-19°C) weather toward the switch at the west end. They'll have to put the switch in hand throw and align it for the main for the train to continue west.
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An arctic winter storm moved in from the north yesterday. It brought with it around four inches of snow and brought the temperature way down. After 53°F (11°C) on Thursday, it is currently -2°F (-19°C) outside as the Winter Park Express sits on the main at Eisele, working on resolving a PTC issue to proceed west.
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DS-378 has given the Winter Park Express authority to pass a red signal at the west end of Eisele (Clay). However, PTC is being difficult and not accepting the authority, preventing the train from being able to continue west. The engineer is talking to the dispatcher as well as UP's PTC Help Desk.
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The Winter Park Express has come to a stop on the main track at Eisele (Clay) due to a red signal at the west end. UP's DS-378 is unable to get the switch to lock up, so the conductor will have to put it in hand throw and the train will get authority to flag by the red. Meanwhile, BNSF's Provo-Denver has slowly started to roll east in the siding toward the east end.
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BNSF's eastbound Provo-Denver is stopped in the siding at Eisele (Clay) to meet the westbound Winter Park Express. The sun is shining through a light layer of clouds, creating a nice glint off the side of the Superliners on the Ski Train.
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AMTK 75 and AMTK 146 are power for the Winter Park Express Ski Train this morning. If you look close, you might notice a Rio Grande herald sticker has been applied to the side of the nose of AMTK 75! A nice little homage to the history of the train.
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As the morning Zephyr makes its way west on the main at Eisele (Clay), a herd of elk wander around in Jefferson County Open Space north of Rocky. Passengers often enjoy views of wild life on the Zephyr, particularly in the area around Big Ten.
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The westbound Zephyr passes through the first winter scene of the season on the main track at Eisele (Clay). In the background, it almost looks as though there are two tracks climbing up Big Ten Curve. However, what might appear to be tracks on the right is in fact tire tracks in the snow created by MOW vehicles.
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Fall colors are still apparent in certain parts of the Front Range area here in late October, this tree near the west end of Eisele (Clay) being no exception! The Zephyr is rolling west on the main.
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Near the west end of Eisele (Clay), a westbound BNSF empty oil train has a green signal to continue heading west. After being loaded with oil at Wash, UT, the train will likely return east in a 3x3 configuration. Alas, it looks like it is likely that the KCS Belles will be against the train for the returning journey.
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The westbound Zephyr makes its way on the main at Eisele (Clay), a few hundred feet above a westbound UP oil train in the siding at Rocky. Just minutes earlier, the Zephyr was passing by the oil train, heading right-to-left through the frame.
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