In a lot of ways, this turned out to be one of my favorite shots of this particular day. The Zephyr certainly isn't an overpowering component in the shot, but that's okay. Just a nice, lazy day in the Colorado high country along the Colorado River!
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The towering 14ers of the Rockies are many miles to the east now, but that doesn't mean the mountains are gone. In fact, the westbound Zephyr is still close to 7,000 feet above sea level!
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The Zephyr makes its way through one of the numerous (too many to count) S-Curves along the Colorado River. The tracks actually follow the river for over 230 miles, from Granby, CO to Westwater, UT.
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As UP 1989 and the MRONY depart Leyden, the pass the classic DRGW signal at the east switch. I've wanted to get a shot from this perspective for awhile now, and thought UP 1989 would be the perfect candidate for the shot. What do you think of the spot?
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After sitting at Leyden for a little over 45 minutes (to wait for the MNYRO to get out of North Yard), the MRONY now has a clear signal and departs Leyden with UP 1989 leading the way.
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The conductor for the MRONY (with UP 1989) stands on the ground and watches as the MNYRO heads west on the main track. The MNYRO would receive a good rollby by the conductor, and next it will be the MRONY's turn to depart.
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At the east switch of Leyden, the daily MNYRO has a clear signal and heads west on the main track. This one of the few locations left on the east side of the divide where the signals haven't yet been replaced by Union Pacific.
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The MRONY holds in the siding at Leyden shortly after the sun peaks over the houses on the hills to the east. The 96-car train has been informed that North Yard won't have room for them until the MNYRO heads west.
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A westbound manifest blasts pasts a clear signal at the east switch of Leyden. Halfway through May and the greens are persisting nicely!
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After lots of snow and rain in the past few weeks, there is a LOT of green in the Denver area right now. After meeting a westbound at Leyden, this eastbound coal load is on the move, headed for Public Service in Denver.
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Since Colorado is a fairly arid climate, this level of "green" doesn't last too terribly long. So I get out to take pictures as much as possible! On my way home from work, I caught this short work train which was headed for Bond. It is on the main at Leyden, running on clear signals.
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Five GE ACs and UP 1989 (the lone EMD unit on the train) lead up the MNYRO at Leyden. Most of these units - included UP 1989 - will be taken off the train at Grand Junction, most likely to serve as mid-train swing helpers on eastbound coal loads.
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UP 1989 gets away from its captive night service on the Joint Line and heads west on the MNYRO! One of these days, it might even appear on the point....or maybe that's just wishful thinking.
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The tail end of the Ski Train as it hustles its way through a spring blizzard. The train is on the main track about halfway through Leyden.
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Only four runs left for the 2008-2009 Winter Ski Train and Colorado is trying to send it off with a bang! Snow starts falling at a rate a bit higher then an inch per hour as the Ski Train charges west through Leyden.
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