Photo ID: 105675 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tennyson Street Denver, CO 1457 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF It is just a few minutes before the sun crests the horizon on a frigid New Year's Eve as an eastbound BNSF manifest approaches Tennyson Street on Main 1. Behind the train and to the right of the frame, you can see a lot of infrastructure for the new RTD Gold Line commuter line, set to open in Fall of 2016. An interesting note is that this is the very last eastbound BNSF train that won't be crewed by a Grand Junction based crew. Starting January 1, 2016, BNSF eliminated the crew change point in Kremmling. Grand Junction crews now take BNSF trains from Grand Junction as far east as they can. It is actually probable that a BNSF train at this location will have a Denver based crew as a Grand Junction crew likely won't be able to reach Denver. So a Denver crew will "dog catch" the train somewhere west of town. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105676 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tennyson Street Denver, CO 1482 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A brand new ET44C4 leads BNSF's Provo to Denver shortly before sunrise on New Year's Eve. I actually got shots of this exactly same consist two days earlier, when it was headed west toward Provo! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105677 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 1466 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) Amtrak The westbound California Zephyr sits on Track 4 at Union Station on a chilly New Year's Eve. On Track 5, private cars California and Kansas hang out, waiting for the Zephyr to pick them up and take the west back to California (where they now live). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105678 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 1500 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) Amtrak Early plans for the remodel and rebuilding behind Union Station called for the tracks to be underground! That plan was ultimately scrapped because there wasn't enough room for a gentle enough grade to allow Amtrak to "climb" out and get back up to the surface. Honestly, I'm glad it didn't work out, because shots like this would not have been possible. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105679 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 1452 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) American Railway Explorer Two of Phil Anschutz's three private cars (the California and Kansas, both of DRGW and Ski Train heritage) sit on Track 5, while the Patron Tequilla (of Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio heritage) sits on Track 4. A lot of mighty fine looking varnish here in Denver on New Year's Eve, 2015! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105680 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 1498 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) Regional Transportation District Starting in 2016, you are going to be seeing these commuter cars a lot more around Denver! These commuter cars have a top speed of 79 MPH and will be used on the RTD A Line, B Line, and G Line. On a chilly New Year's Eve, RTD is working on some test runs between Union Station and Denver International Airport (the A Line). That line is set to open on April 22, 2016. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105681 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 1448 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) Regional Transportation District Is this Denver or Philadelphia!? Not used to seeing so much catenary (that the overhead power lines for the commuter trains) here in Denver. While I don't personally find the new commuter cars that will be used in Denver particularly pleasing aesthetically, it is cool to see CTC back in operation at Union Station! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105682 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 1430 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) None Built in 1927, the Patron Tequila was original the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio car 50. In 1992, it was sold to gentleman named John Paul DeJoria, who ultimately refurbished it and turned it in to the car you see now in 2015. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105683 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 1435 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) American Railway Explorer Private varnish hanging out on two different tracks at Union Station to close out 2015! The California and Kansas are on Track 5 to the left and the Patron Tequila is on Track 4 to the right. The latter was dropped off by the California Zephyr when arriving this morning and the former will be picked up and head west with the Zephyr to California. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105684 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 1695 (1 Comment Posted) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) American Railway Explorer It may say American Railway Explorer on the side, but the California is no stranger to Denver! Prior to the end of the Ski Train in 2009, this car had Rio Grande written along the top of it. Good to see it back at Union Station, if only for a short time. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105685 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1349 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Running a bit over an hour late, the westbound California Zephyr is making its way west of Leyden at track speed. You may notice the interesting looking horse off to the left. This horse is an art sculpture, created by a local artist that pays tribute to those that worked at Rocky Flats. The horse wears a red suit and a gas mask. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105686 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1340 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr got delayed a little over an hour in Denver due to a mechanical issue. Apparently, one of the rungs on the ladder of the cab on the lead unit was broken and had to be repaired. While the rung was indeed fixed, there was another issue (not sure what) that ultimately caused the lead unit to be bad ordered. Amtrak used to keep a spare unit in Denver (for just such a situation), but apparently Amtrak is so short on power right now (due to multiple units out of service with mechanical issues) that they don't have one to spare! Here, the train is heading west on clear signals, west of Leyden. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105687 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1567 (1 Comment Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) American Railway Explorer, Amtrak Here are two cars that are by no means strangers to the Moffat! The California and Kansas, now based out of Los Angeles, came to Denver over Christmas and are now headed back to their new home. I think I could handle enjoying New Year's riding on these cars, behind the Zephyr. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105688 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1383 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Blast from the past, anyone? With both the California and the Kansas bringing up the rear of a train, you'd think it might be 2009 instead of the last day of 2015. Both cars were in Denver over Christmas and were now headed back to their new home in California. Sure brought back great memories of the Ski Train though. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105689 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, December 31, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1290 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) American Railway Explorer, Amtrak The westbound California Zephyr heads toward the east entrance to Barbara's Gulch at track speed. A pair of old friends ride along behind the Zephyr. You may recognize the California and Kansas from the days of the Ski Train! Now, their home is in California and that is where they are returning to. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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