Not far west of Cliff, the tracks cross South Beaver Creek Road and South Boulder Creek (the actual creek!). On a sunny Saturday morning, an on-time Zephyr crosses the bridge over a largely frozen South Boulder Creek.
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Running just nine minutes late, the eastbound Zephyr departs Fraser, CO, its last station stop west of Denver. The perspective here is from the top of the Fraser tubing hill. In the winter, you can rent a huge inter tube and fly down the hill.
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After completing its station stop in Fraser, the eastbound Zephyr (led by AMTK 46 and AMTK 3) continues east past the east switch in fantastic afternoon light.
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The eastbound Zephyr, running a mere nine minutes late, is coming up to a clear signal at the east end of Tabernash. In the distance, Winter Park is starting to get a good snow base, getting ready to open in a month (or possibly less).
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Looking across an open field at Tabernash, we see an eastbound UP coal load (with UP 1988 leading) on the main. The main and the siding separate at Tabernash. There are no grade crossings on the main at Tabernash, but there are on the siding. As a result, long train typically hold the main rather than taking the siding to avoid blocking the grade crossing.
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UP 1988 looks pretty sharp as it leads a coal train east through Byers Canyon. The Colorado River is somewhat low, typical for the fall. The train has clear signals all the way to Tabernash.
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The red of UP 1988 offers a very colorful contrast against the falls colors of the Colorado High Country. This 78-car coal load will be entering Byers Canyon shortly on its journey east.
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After cruising along at 45 MPH for the past several miles, UP 1988 is now slowing down to 20 MPH in preparation for entering Byers Canyon from the west.
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After conquering Gore Canyon, this eastbound coal load can increase its speed a bit as the terrain opens up and the tracks are much straighter. the curves that are found are not nearly as severe as in the canyon of the Rocky Mountains. The train is accelerating toward a speed of about 45 MPH as it passes by the east switch of Kremmling.
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Looking down on UP 1988 and UP 8237 as they lead a train toward Tunnel 38 at the west end of Gore Canyon.
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A 78-car coal load snakes its way out the east end of Azure and toward Gore Canyon as seen from high above at the location known as "Inspiration Point".
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UP 1988 works its way through the narrow canyon known as "Little Gore Canyon". The canyon starts at Tunnel 39 to the east (which the train is approaching) and ends just past Tunnel 40 to the west.
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UP 1988 leads a train out of Tunnel 40 in Little Gore Canyon. As the days grow shorter, the shadows are starting to grow longer, creeping up on the tracks even now at 1pm.
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Looking through the lens of a 400mm lens, we see the Westbound Zephyr as it departs the west end of Azure (note the signal to the right). This stretch of track is between Gore Canyon and Little Gore Canyon. The tracks curve back and forth as they follow the Colorado River.
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A pair of (elephant style) P42DCs lead the westbound Zephyr through the winding curves of Byers Canyon along the Colorado River.
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