A westbound BNSF manifest approaches the grade crossing at Blue Mountain on a fairly nice March afternoon. In the distance, windmills for the National Wind Technology Center stand spinning.
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The lead units of this westbound manifest have already crossed CO-72 at the base of Coal Creek Canyon and are now climbing the 2% grade toward Tunnel 1. At the tail end of the train, the sole DPU approaches the detector at MP 22.6.
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The S-Curves at Blue Mountain and Coal Creek Canyon are an excellent place for train crews to check out their train. Here, the crew on the head end approach the east portal to Tunnel 1, as the sole DPU (a pre-production ES44AC) winds around the curve toward Coal Creek.
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After being held up briefly for some maintenance at the west switch of Cliff, this westbound BNSF manifest is on the roll again, now just west of Cliff. The train is approach the South Beaver Creek Road grade crossing.
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This westbound BNSF manifest had a single DODX flat car on it. "DODX" is the designation for the Department of Defense. Not entirely sure where this particular car is headed.
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A westbound BNSF manifest slows on the main at East Portal. It is currently looking at a red signal because a ballast washer is working inside the Moffat Tunnel. The washer is currently headed for East Portal as well. It will hold on the siding to allow the train to continue westbound.
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After a brief pause, this westbound BNSF manifest is on the roll again. That second C44-9W may have a bit of an issue with its turbocharger! The signal for the train is an Advanced Approach, meaning it is flashing yellow over red. This indicates that the signal at east Winter Park is not green, but it isn't red.
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For years and years, Amtrak had a contract with the US mail. The mail was hauled in boxcars...this boxcar being one such example. I actually was unaware that the boxcars had been sold off and were now being used for other purposes. This one is still clearly in its Phase IV scheme.
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An eastbound approaches the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel. The train is actually a pair of EMD SD70ACe-T4s and a trio of UP units. the train will hold briefly on the main at East Portal before continuing east to North Yard.
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Over the past several days, EMD and UP have been testing this pair of SD70ACe-T4s for the past several days. The consist has been running between Tabernash and East Portal, running through the Moffat Tunnel. Testing is completely now, however, and the consist will be headed back to North Yard in Denver.
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After several days of testing these SD70ACe-T4s through the Moffat Tunnel, EMD has collected all the data needed and the consist will now head east back to Denver. The SD70ACe-T4 is supposed to go in to production a little later in 2016 and rumor has it that UP has already ordered several dozen copies.
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A bit of winter weather blows over the Continental Divide to the west as EMD's SD70ACe-T4 special glides east on the main at Tolland. The special made extremely good time on its way back east. After this shot, I was unable to catch the train again until Blue Mountain.
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Descending from Tunnel 1, the SD70ACe-T4 special approaches the bridge at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. When the special went west earlier in the week, a UP SD70AH was on the point. However, once the special started testing, the SD70AH was removed and EMDX 1502 ran on the point. When the train climbed the grade from Tabernash to the Moffat Tunnel, the UP units were put in full dynamics to simulate a train for the SD70ACe-T4s.
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EMD has said that they listened to their customers and incorporated more than 80 design changes in the SD70ACe-T4. Among other things, EMD added an extra step for safety, an emergency exit behind the conductor's seat, an angled windshield, and the re-introduction of the tear drop windshield for better visibility. Here, the prototypes are approaching the Blue Mountain crossing.
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The EMD special turned the heads of several railfans. Not the least of which was my 10 year old daughter (using an iPad to grab an image here). One of the crew rode back in EMDX 1503 and gave a friendly wave to those gathered.
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