The final westbound Zephyr out of Denver in 2023 has navigated through the S-curve at Eisele (Clay) and it is headed out the west end.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Zephyr is just over an hour late as it passes the west switch of Eisele (Clay). The Zephyr overtook a westbound UP coal empty at Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP 6889 and train roll through the west switch of Eisele (Clay) on the journey east toward Denver. UP 6889 was originally built to have a 6,000 horsepower prime mover as an AC6000CW. However, the 6,000 horsepower experiment was relatively short-lived, and the unit has been rebuilt by UP and is now designated as a C44ACM.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
In 2018, it was common to find eight Superliners on the Zephyr through the winter months. Post-COVID, an a coach and a sleeper have both been dropped from the train, making six Superliners the current winter standard. P42DCs still reign on the Zephyr, despite Amtrak taking receipt on 18 ALC-42s.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A quartet of P42DCs on the point of the westbound Zephyr passes by the eastbound signal at west Eisele (Clay) on its journey west. The 3rd and 4th P42DCs were just picked up today in Denver. If you look closely, you can see one door on the baggage car currently open.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of GEs lead a westbound empty oil train through the OS at the west end of Eisele (Clay). Some trees are definitely sporting some strong yellows here at the lower elevations, even more than halfway through October.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
There are some great colors in the shrubs at the west end of Eisele (Clay). Hopefully, passenger on board the morning westbound Zephyr are taking in the fantastic sights the train has to offer.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Coal has certainly dwindled in recent years on the Moffat, but reports are that the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch has received an uptick in orders and hopes to load close to a train a day! Not all trains will run east on the Moffat. Some will run west as export coal. Here, a westbound empty departs the west end of Eisele (Clay) after the westbound Zephyr ran around it at Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It is exceptionally rare to catch the eastbound Zephyr with glorious morning light on the east slope of the Moffat. One of those exceptional morning came this morning though as the eastbound Zephyr is almost 16 hours late! It got stuck in the Nevada desert as the tracks were blocked due to torrential rains.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
At the west switch of Eisele (Clay), a very late eastbound Zephyr knocks down a Diverging Approach (red over yellow) signal and gets read to take the siding. The almost 16-hour late Zephyr is meeting its westbound counterpart.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A standard pair of P42DCs lead a typical consist of a baggage car and seven Superliners west over the switch and out of the siding of Eisele (Clay).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An eastbound oil train approaches the east end of Eisele (Clay) in the distance as a single DPU clear the west switch. Momentarily, the switch will throw and the westbound Zephyr will get a clear (green) signal to continue its trip west.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Take a look at UP's newest official paint scheme. After two decades of the American flag on the long hood, UP has made the decision to reduce the size of the flag and put it on either side of the nose. Union Pacific is returning to the long hood, and the UP shield is replacing the wings on the nose. This unit is designated as an C44ACM, a rebuild of a former AC6000CW.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
At the west switch of Eisele (Clay), a typical pair of P42s lead a baggage car and six Superliners, one shy of the seven that tends to be the standard on the Zephyr these days.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Now running over seven hours, the westbound Zephyr departs Eisele (Clay) on the main. Hopefully, the train will not experience any more significant delays between here and Emeryville, CA!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
