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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A P42DC and a P40DC (which has been rebuilt and is now essentially a P42DC) lead a baggage car and seven Superliners up the 2% grade toward the east portal of Tunnel 1.
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Moment earlier, the Zephyr passed over the rails in the foreground. It has now wrapped around the base of Coal Creek Canyon and has climbed the 2% grade up to Tunnel 1.
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Just west of Tunnel 1, the Zephyr heads west through a chilly and rather gloomy scene on an overcast December 1.
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A pair of SD70ACes leads an eastbound coal train out of Tunnel 1. However, you might notice something a little bit different about this train. It is an empty! The first UP coal empty I think I've ever seen run eastbound on the Moffat. The cars were pulled out of storage somewhere west on the Rio Grande.
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Not a lot to be said about this shot. Headlights from an eastbound train light up as the train approaches the east portal.
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On a beautiful morning at the end of November, a westbound UP coal empty headed for the West Elk mine on the North Fork branch is climbing up to Tunnel 1. The three units on the head end are all there is on the 98-car train.
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In and out of Tunnel 1. The head end of the Zephyr has exiting the west portal while the last few Superliners have yet to enter it. The tunnel is 366 feet long, so not nearly long enough for the entire Zephyr to be inside the tunnel at once.
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The westbound Zephyr climbs toward Tunnel 1, which is clearly visible center frame. In the distance, you can see the freshly paved road that is part of the new Canyon Pines neighborhood. No houses have been built...yet...
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Seven units leads UP's eastbound MGJNY (Manifest, Grand Junction to North Yard) on the approach to the west portal of Tunnel 1. Interestingly, the train itself is only 29 cars in length, so no doubt most of the units are not powered and are just being moved to Denver.
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Amidst a powered scene, the westbound Zephyr has just emerged from Tunnel 1 on its journey west in to the Colorado Rockies.
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