An eastbound coal load (coming from the North Fork Branch and headed for Kentucky) heads through the curves at Blue Mountain and Coal Creek Canyon. In the foreground, the headend of the train passes the hotbox detector at MP 22.6. 1/3 mile away (as the crow flies), three mid-train swing helpers descend the grade from Tunnel 1. Among the mid-train swings is UP 7964, the 5000th Evolution Series locomotive.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
One train and lots of flags! Four (newer) UP units including a C44AC-CTE (UP 5739), an ES44AC (UP 7964) and two SD70ACes (UP 8351, UP 8709) work to moves this Kentucky-bound coal load east around the loop at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. In this shot, the three units is the foreground (mid-train swing helpers) are moving left to right and the sole unit on the rear is moving right to left.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
In June 2012, General Electric release the 5000th copy of an Evolution Series (e.g. ES44AC, ES44DC, ES40DC, etc) locomotive. That unit happened to be part of a Union Pacific order. So celebrate the Tier 3 compliant locomotive, some custom labels were added to the nose and the side of the radiator housing.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A single SD70ACe brings up the tail end of this Kentucky-bound coal load through the S-curve at Blue Mountain. Interestingly, I shot this exact unit headed west just two days earlier. Once it reached Grand Junction, it was pulled off that train and added to this one.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Just for kicks, I decided to shoot this eastbound coal load from the "dark side of the tracks" as it approaches the west switch of Leyden. Experimenting a little with different light angles in an attempt to make "lemonade out of lemons" with the late sun angles and an eastbound.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This is another someone artsy shot that, quite frankly, I cannot decide if I like or not. The low angle makes for an interesting backlit shot (as the sun is directly behind UP 7334). But the base of the units are cut off by the bridge. So, I figured, I have a website...why not let you decide! Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP 7964, the 5000th Evolution Series locomotive produced by GE, crosses over the Rio Grande fly letter bridge above Indiana Street. Upon reaching Bypass 2 at North Yard, these three units will be cut out of the train at Pecos Street.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After meeting an eastbound coal load at Leyden, this westbound empty got a clear signal to head west. That clear signal didn't last long though...the train will head in to the siding at Rocky in order to meet the eastbound California Zephyr. The three units (which includes an SD70ACe) are the only three units on the train for the trip to Grand Junction.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
I've said it a lot lately, but I like the fact that newer power is showing up more and more on Colorado coal trains on the Moffat. Not only SD70ACes, but also ES44ACs. Examples of both are seen here on this North Fork bound coal empty.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Steel. Gotta love how well it endures! This rail located west of Leyden is 35 years old! It was rolled at Colorado Fuel and Iron (in Pueblo, CO) in 1979. The rail is seen here doing what it was designed to do and what it has done thousands of times...supporting the weight of a wheel (and car) rolling over it.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
