Under clear skies and a rising sun, the Ski Train begins its 69th season of winter operations on a frigid December morning! The Denver skyline is almost directly below the sun.
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The temperature outside for the first run of the Ski Train didn't break 15 degrees in Arvada. With the wind chill, that quickly dropped down to about -5 degrees! Skiers are indifferent as they ride in the warmth of the Ski Train, on its way west.
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Might be tricky to figure out the location of this shot! Believe it or not, the Ski Train is on the climb to Tunnel One. There is a spot along Highway 72 where there is nothing but sky in the background.
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Just over a mile away from the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel, the first run of the 2008-2009 Winter Ski Train is running against blowing snow in temperatures around 0 degrees. Add the wind chill, and it was a balmy 22 degrees below zero out!
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A passenger aboard the Kansas waves at the camera out the back of the vestibule. Needless to say, that passenger is probably a bit warmer than the photographer! The Ski Train is at the east end of East Portal.
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UP's daily North Yard, CO to Roper, UT manifest is running heavy on the General Electric at Rollins! The first two units are working, but the trailing six are either idle or dead in consist. Those six units will be set out at Glenwood Springs as mid-train swing helpers.
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Eight AC units lead up the MNYRO holding on the siding at Tolland. The train is holding here while a track inspector clears the switch points at east East Portal. Once clear, this train will move up to East Portal to wait for an eastbound coal load.
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A westbound manifest heads into the siding at East Portal to meet an eastbound coal load. Although it isn't snowing from above, the wind is blowing extremely hard and kicking up snow on the ground!
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Got snow? Looks like its been awhile since the siding at East Portal has been used as some snow has built up across the road crossing. A track maintainer had to clear snow from the switch points at the east end as the switch heaters couldn't keep up with the blowing snow.
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A coal load that just emerged from the Moffat Tunnel is on its way east. It is at the grade crossing near the east end of East Portal here. It will meet the westbound California Zephyr at Tolland and then have clear signals all the way into Denver.
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More than 9,000 feet above sea level, the westbound California Zephyr is on the main passing a UP manifest holding up on the siding at East Portal. Amtrak is about to plunge into the 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel. The manifest has been stuck in the hole while waiting for an eastbound coal load and now Amtrak.
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Between the wind from nature and the wind whipped up from Amtrak, a lot of snow is blowing at the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel. This shot was rough to get as I could barely hold the camera level due to the high winds!
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Looks like this former Espee AC4400CW has given a kiss to a few snow drifts! The train has a clear signal at the east end of Cliff as the train makes its way toward Denver. From there, it'll continue on to St Louis, MO where it will be interchanged.
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The sole DPU on an eastbound coal load makes its way through Cliff. In the distance, you can see Colorado Highway 72 climbing away from the town and the tracks.
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An eastbound coal train wraps its way through the loops at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. The head end of the train is roughly 3,100 feet ahead of the mid-train swing helpers.
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