AMTK 160 sports a great looking "Pepsi Can" paint scheme as it leads the westbound Zephyr on the climb up from Coal Creek Canyon up to Tunnel 1.
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An ES44AC is the single DPU on an eastbound oil train as it emerges from Tunnel 1. In the distance, above to cross CO-72, are a pair of mid-train swing helpers. About of foot of snow fell in just over 9 hours the previous day, creating a fantastic winter scene.
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An ET44AC leads a loaded oil train toward Tunnel 1 just east of Plain. The train has encountered quite a bit of snow in the Colorado high country, as evidenced by the snow that has accumulated on the plow.
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Minutes after sunrise, UP's MGJNY (Manifest, Grand Junction, CO to North Yard in Denver, CO) rolls east toward Tunnel 1. UP's manifest between Denver and Grand Junction (and back) is the only regularly scheduled manifest UP still runs on the Moffat. It runs each direction three times a week.
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When Amtrak started running the Winter Park Express again a few years ago, they seemed to make an effort to include a specially-painted (heritage) unit on the train. Not the case this year, as AMTK 142 and AMTK 192 lead the train west, just west of Tunnel 1.
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The Winter Park Express emerges from the west end of Tunnel 1 on an extremely cold January morning. The temperature is currently -7°F (-22°C) and is not expected to even climb to 10°F (-12°C) today.
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AMTK 142 and AMTK 192 lead the Winter Park Express (Ski Train) up the grade toward Tunnel 1. This trainset came the other way over the Moffat last Monday when it came to town (from Emeryville, CA) on eastbound California Zephyr.
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The westbound Zephyr climbs the roughly 2% grade in a powdery, snow-covered scene the morning of January 8, 2024. The train has just snaked its way through the curves at the base of Coal Creek Canyon and is about to disappear in to Tunnel 1. The first of 28 tunnels the train will pass through before reaching the Moffat Tunnel.
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Three units emerge from Tunnel 1 on the point of a westbound oil empty that is climbing through the terrain of the front range of the Rockies. The back of the train is visible at the top of the frame, and is in fact about 100 feet lower in elevation then the head end of the train.
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UP 8436 kicked up a bit of exhaust when the head end of this coal load was in Tunnel 1. The resulting exhaust cloud rises up from the east portal as the train slowly rolls east down the roughly 2% grade.
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A pair of UP units that are both sporting the newest paint scheme (which, unfortunately, does not include wings on the nose) rolls east through the S-curve just east of Plain on the approach to Tunnel 1.
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The westbound Zephyr has just emerged from Tunnel 1. The train had an Advanced Approach (yellow over yellow) at the previous intermediate. It will be taking the siding at Plain to meet an eastbound coal load that is already there waiting on it.
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AMTK 188 and AMTK 169 lead the morning Zephyr out the west portal of Tunnel 1. The concrete framework at the west portal was built in 1958, as noted by the year etched in the concrete, just above the graffiti shark "artwork" to the left of the train.
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An eastbound loaded oil train is out of Plain and is approaching the west portal of Tunnel 1. Way off in the distance (in the top-right corner of the picture), you can actually see the city of Boulder.
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Final shot of the Zephyr in the year 2023 for ColoradoRailfan. The morning Zephyr is right on time as it climbs the grade up toward the east portal of Tunnel 1.
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