At the base of Blue Mountain, the westbound Zephyr makes its way through the S-curves. Has a nice, wintery feel to it, don't you think?
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It's always fun to shoot an eastbound at the Blue Mountain grade crossing as the train winds its way through the S-Curves at the bottom of Coal Creek Canyon. Midtrain swing helpers are usually positioned in just the right spot in the train to be able to capture the first one along with the head end power, such as in this shot.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Although there really isn't any evidence of it here (other than clouds and a semi-wet road), the first snow fall of the 2010-2011 season came about an hour earlier! This coal train loaded at the Energy mine on the Craig branch and is headed for the Drake power plant in Colorado Springs.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Although they are a little bit dirty, these two flagged C44AC-CTE's look pretty good leading up six other units and a coal empty through the S-Curve at Blue Mountain.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of US Army tanks heading west on BNSF's Denver to Provo trackage rights train. The tanks are on a Department of Defense (DODX) flat car for the journey.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
BNSF's daily Denver to Provo trackage rights train makes its way through the S-Curve just east of the road crossing at Blue Mountain. The train has an interesting load behind the power - a pair of tanks!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It's great to see UP 1989 on the point of the MNYRO on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Granted the 1989 could use a little bit of a washing, but it still looks good coming through the S-Curve at Blue Mountain!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A BNSF manifest headed from Denver to Provo, UT wraps through the S-Curves just east of the grade crossing at Blue Mountain.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This shot is remarkably similar to one that I snapped a few weeks earlier at the exact same spot. The time of day - almost 8:00pm - limited the options for places to take this shot. After spending a day on the western slope, UP 1989 comes back to Denver on the MRONY-02.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This is the type of environment that the Rio Grande Heritage unit should be in! Working as a swing helper on an eastbound coal load coming past Blue Mountain in the snow.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Looking west from near the grade crossing at Blue Mountain shows the mid-train swing helpers on this coal load coming through the curves at the base of Coal Creek Canyon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Been awhile since you get this shot at Blue Mountain with some Aspen Gold in the frame! The Rio Grande Heritage unit is serving as a mid-train swing helper on this eastbound coal load as the head end approaches the grade crossing at Blue Mountain.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A look at the entire Ski Train and the snowy plains as seen from above Blue Mountain western Arvada. The trains is over halfway home, with roughly 22 miles left to go to Union Station.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This westbound coal empty works its way west through the S-curves at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. Note the east portal of Tunnel One visible in the top-right corner of the frame.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Well, it can be done! Amtrak can indeed run not only on time, but early! The eastbound California Zephyr is in fact running about 45 minutes early on this particularly evening as it comes through the S-Curves at the base of Coal Creek Canyon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
