I try to never miss an opportunity to get a shot of an SD70M. They are my personal favorite six-axle unit since the Tunnel Motors. They were released in a few phases, and UP 4953 represents my personal favorite phase (Phase 2). The unit still has its classic EMD wide nose (without the "notch"), but also had the slight angle on the radiator houses, similar to the SD45.
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The conductor on UP 5306 gives a friendly wave out the window as the MGJNY rolls by on the main at Plain. Around two inches of snow has fallen in the last 12 hours, and the forecast indicates it is not supposed to stop all day long.
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UP's MGJNY has 103 cars on it today, powered by five units on the point, and a single DPU on the end. There is a significant snowstorm in the area. The 28°F here at Plain is quite a shock after 72°F just 24 hours ago.
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UP's eastbound MGJNY slowly rolls east on the main at Plain in a heavy spring snowfall. PTC onboard UP 5306 seemed to believe the green signal at west Plain was not in fact green, and sent the train into emergency after the train passed the green signal. The engineer has recovered the air, and the train is now slowly continuing east.
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Overnight, there was a light dusting of snow that fell in the Denver-Metro area. This might be the last snow of the 2024-2025 winter season, but that certainly is not guaranteed. The morning Zephyr rolls west on the main at Plain.
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This BNSF oil load has quite a colorful consist as a KCS "Belle" and an MRL SD70ACe help out the BNSF ES44AC on the point. The train is rolling east on the main track at Plain.
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A BNSF eastbound oil train wraps through the S-Curve at Rainbow Cut on the main at Plain. A KCS unit and an MRL unit are part of the head end consist today.
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AMTK 75 and AMTK 59 are the power on the westbound Winter Park Express. The train was delayed about 20 minutes waiting for a BNSF southbound to clear the diamond at 23rd Street. However, with no eastbound traffic opposing it, the train would still arrive in Winter Park one minute early!
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AMTK 75 leads the morning Winter Park Express westbound across the grade crossing at Plain. There was a light dusting of snow overnight, and the result is powdery white pine trees, ties, and ballast.
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After meeting the Winter Park Express Ski Train here at Plain, this eastbound BNSF oil load now has a clear (green) signal at the east end of the siding. It is slowly starting to roll toward the signal. In the distance on the right side of the shot is Tunnel 4, which the Ski Train will momentarily be passing through.
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This has come to be one of my favorite views on the Moffat along the Front Range. "Sister" units AMTK 180 and AMTK 179 lead an on-time Zephyr through a powdery white scene about halfway through the siding of Plain.
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AMTK 159 and AMTK 154 have the duty of leading the westbound Zephyr this morning. The train is right on time as it rolls west on the main through a still-snowy plain. After a lot of snow last week, the forecast is much nicer this week, with highs around 55°F (13°C).
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Three units lead a westbound oil empty through the siding at Plain. The train had been holding short of the grade crossing to avoid blocking cars. However, the eastbound this oil train has been waiting on is now out of Crescent, so DS-380 told the crew on the oil train to pull into the clear.
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After holding short of the grade crossing at Plain, this oil train is pulling into the clear on the siding to meet an eastbound. The SD70ACe in the third spot is really coughing up some exhaust as the power throttles up.
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The westbound Zephyr rolls by the house track that holds a single gondola. Stacks of panel track lie on the ground by the house track as well. The Zephyr will be the final train through here for the next six hours or so, as UP has a work window starting behind Amtrak
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