This oil train is running on UP rails, with a Norfolk Southern leader, and a BNSF crew! Quite the interesting mix. The yellow hand rails on the lead unit really pop in the scene as the train curves toward Tunnel 1.
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A final shot of the eastbound Rocky Mountaineer as the train proceeds beyond Blue Mountain Drive and toward the west end of Eisele. Unfortunately, this would be the final shot taken on this day, as my drone developed an error with the vision sensors, preventing it from taking off again. Fortunately, by the end of the day, the drone was already in the care of UPS, off to the repair shop.
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I really love it when the Rocky Mountaineer GP40-3s are running on the train. It immediately takes me back several decades to when the Moffat was run by Rio Grande and spartan cab EMDs. Not only do they look great coming by Blue Mountain Drive here, but the sound of the classic EMD prime movers is really great as well.
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RMRX 8021 and RMRX 8020 lead the Rocky Mountaineer out of Plain, rolling east toward the west portal of Tunnel 1. The train is running right on time, having departed from Glenwood Springs earlier this morning.
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The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is using the SD40M-2 and SD18M, in addition to one of the GP40-3s, for power this morning. The SD18M and GP40-3 kick up quite a bit of exhaust as the train accelerates.
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It feels uncommon to catch a meet between two UP trains on the Moffat, simply because UP has run few trains in the last few years. However, as oil trains are increasing on the Moffat, it is becoming easier to catch a meet between UP trains. Such is the case on this afternoon, as a westbound oil empty holds in the siding at Eisele (Clay) as a loaded oil train rolls by.
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After the eastbound Zephyr ran around this UP oil train at Plain, it is now the oil trains turn to continue east. The crew will tie the train down on Bypass 1 between C&S and Broadway.
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The eastbound Zephyr is running right on time as it approaches the west portal of Tunnel 1. The train just had to run through the siding at Plain to run around a loaded UP oil train that was holding on the main.
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AMTK 203, which honors 50 years of Operation Lifesaver, is leading the westbound Zephyr this morning along with AMTK 140. Low hanging clouds and snowy trees make it feel more like December rather than two days before the start of April!
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A pair of P42DCs lead the Winter Park Express out of Eisele (Clay). After running with only five coaches for a couple of trips, a sixth coach has been added back on. It was added at the same time AMTK 45 replaced AMTK 29 on the train. Note that you can just barely see the mainline west of Rocky, climbing Big Ten to the left.
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Rime ice is formed by fog (precipitation in the air) freezing onto vegetation. However, the rime ice typically does not form on rocks and dirt. The result is the ability to tell at a glance what is vegetation and what is not! The red rock face to the right creates a stark contrast to the winter white pine trees to the left as the Zephyr splits to two, climbing toward Tunnel 1.
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In early morning light, Amtrak's Winter Park Express Ski Train is climbing the 2% grade in the snow on the approach to Tunnel 1.
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AMTK 146 and AMTK 75 have been the power on the Winter Park Express all season long thus far. This morning, AMTK 146 has the duty to lead the train west by snow frozen to pine trees in temperatures that are less than 0°F. The orange bag covering the front coupler will protect it from snow and ice, keeping it clear and allowing the crew to easily run around the train at Fraser.
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Four seconds before 8am, and the Winter Park Express is climbing the 2% grade from the base of Coal Creek Canyon up toward Tunnel 1. So far this season, the morning Ski Train has been running on time, and usually arriving Winter Park a few minutes early. The eastbound train has been late more often, but I'm sure skiers would prefer to have the evening train late over the morning train.
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Six units lead BNSF's Provo-Denver manifest out of Tunnel 1 and down the hill toward the base of Coal Creek Canyon. The conductor has his window open on BNSF 9037 as it is actually unseasonably warm here. Temperatures are right around 50°F (10°C) this afternoon!
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