As the head end power on this BNSF Denver-Provo heads toward the east portal of Tunnel 1, an ES44DC and an ET44C4 bring up the tail end of the train by the hotbox detector at MP 22.6.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Several cars are stuck in the queue, waiting in line at the grade crossing for BNSF's Denver-Provo. The train has three units powered up, with a fourth catching a free ride. The geep will be dropped off in Grand Junction for switching duties.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A westbound BNSF manifest comes around the bend from the west switch of Eisele (Clay) toward the crossing at Blue Mountain. An afternoon thunderstorm dumps rain in a northern section of the Denver Metro area out on the plains in the distance.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Provo-Denver rounds the bend coming around to the approach to the west switch of Eisele (Clay). If you look, you can just see the first of two DPUs coming out from behind the cut at the bottom of Coal Creek Canyon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An early morning eastbound Provo-Denver makes its way through one of the S-Curves at Blue Mountain. Third up in the head end consist is a visitor from the south! A Ferromex ES44AC helps the three BNSF units on the journey to Denver.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The hills at Blue Mountain are very green this morning as the westbound Zephyr passes by the grade crossing and the hot box detector at MP 22.6. The train is on time and should not hit any major delays in the foreseeable future. No eastbounds coming against it anywhere nearby.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr is right on time as it approaches the Blue Mountain Road grade crossing. A summer cold front moved in to the Denver area yesterday, producing a lot of overnight rain setting up a sky full of dramatic clouds in the morning.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP's MGJNY wraps through the S-Curve west of Eisele (Clay). The rear end of the train is crossing over the Blue Mountain grade crossing. The train includes four leased GMTX GP38-2s The lease has expired on them and the are being returned to the leaser. The last two units, a pair of GP15-1s, have been sold and are heading to Texas to be prepped for deliver to their new owner.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The lighting isn't great, but I had to nab a shot of UP 1995 nonetheless as this heritage unit is the one that seems to allude me the most. It had in fact been nearly 11 years since I last saw the unit! It was the third unit on the MGJNY early this morning. The train was called at Grand Junction at 6pm the previous night. It probably would have come down the front range in darkness, but the train had to pick up three units in Bond.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP's MGJNY (Manifest, Grand Junction to North Yard) descends from Tunnel 1 and approaches the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Road. You may note the third unit in the consist is UP 1995, the Chicago North Western heritage unit. The unit was originally scheduled to lead the train, but a defective cab heater resulted in it being third in the consist.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A C44-9W and an ES44C4 bring up the tail end of BNSF's Provo-Denver manifest just east of the grade crossing at Blue Mountain. As is rather common, a majority of the train is made up of tank cars.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A trio of Heritage 2 C44-9Ws lead an eastbound BNSF Provo-Denver through the S-Curves at Coal Creek and Blue Mountain. It is a little unusual to see three Heritage 2 units together like this in 2020! Another two DPUs are bringing up the tail end, currently obstructed behind trees and a small cut in the distance.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After meeting the Zephyr at Plain, the eastbound Provo-Denver got lights to continue east toward Denver. Here, a trio of C44-9Ws leads the train toward the grade crossing at Blue Mountain.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Two ES44ACs and an AC4400CW bring up the tail end of this unit oil train. The covered hopper is what is known as a buffer car, to buffer the power from the tank cars filled with crude oil. Looks like UP 5361 saw some decent snow action recently.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This is the second unit oil train in as many days, and the first stalled out on the hill between Tabernash and Winter Park. To avoid the same thing, Up ran this train 3x3 up the hill. Interestingly, the three DPUs are elephant style, facing the "wrong way" (in terms of what's ideal of photography).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
