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Saturday, July 23, 2016
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Kevin Morgan
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North of Platteville
Platteville, CO
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2586 (1 Comment Posted)
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Greeley (UP)
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Union Pacific
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For the first time since 2013, UP 844 (the 4-8-4 Northern steam engine) led the Cheyenne Frontier Days train. The engine spent the last few years undergoing a number of repairs. Whether or not some of those repairs were necessary is a matter of debate, and not one I'm going to get in to here as my knowledge of steam engines is virtually non-existent. Regardless, the steam team got the engine up and running for Frontier Days 2016, and it was a great sight (and sound).
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Saturday, July 23, 2016
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Kevin Morgan
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North of Nunn
Weld County, CO
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2005 (Add a Comment)
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Greeley (UP)
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Union Pacific
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A local farmer in the small town of Nunn has erected a huge flag pole in his or her field. That flag offers a great backdrop as UP 844 charges north toward the US-85 overpass. Some people may wonder why a diesel engine is on the train. As powerful and amazing as UP 844 is, it alone does not have the power to keep the train moving at track speed. In order to keep the schedule, a diesel engine is added and throttles up (when needed) to assist UP 844.
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Saturday, July 23, 2016
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Kevin Morgan
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CP W517 (Speer Jct)
Laramie County, WY
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1400 (Add a Comment)
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Laramie (UP)
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Union Pacific
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UP's tracks west of Cheyenne offer an interesting configuration. Mains 1 and 2 head directly west toward Hermosa Tunnel and Laramie. Mains 3 and 4 curve south and run to Speer Jct. At Speer Jct, the Greeley Sub (toward Denver) breaks off and Mains 3 and 4 curve west. Then, the mains converge into a single main track. This track (Main 3) also runs to Hermosa, but as a single track on a completely different grade from Mains 1 and 2. The grade on Main 3 isn't nearly as steep as on Main 1 and 2, so heavy westbounds, such as the grain train in this shot, are frequently routed over Main 3 to Hermosa.
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Saturday, July 23, 2016
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Kevin Morgan
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East of Speer Jct
Laramie County, WY
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1398 (Add a Comment)
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Laramie (UP)
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Union Pacific
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In order for the Cheyenne Frontier Days train to make the return trip from Cheyenne to Denver, the train has to be wyed (turned around). The nearest wye to Cheyenne is over six miles away at Speer Jct. UP 844 making that reverse move would take hours! So, UP has a better solution. A pair of engines simply hook on to the tail end of the train and pull it to Speer Jct. By doing this, there are no speed restrictions. Here, a pair of units pulls the train on Main 4 toward the first leg of the wye at CP W517.
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Saturday, July 23, 2016
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Kevin Morgan
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Speer Jct
Laramie County, WY
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1438 (Add a Comment)
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Laramie (UP)
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Union Pacific
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As UP 844 comes around the south leg of the wye at Speer Jct, a westbound Z-Train passes by on Main 3 in the background. UP 844 is slowly pulling the train through the wye and on to the Greeley Sub. Once the entire train is on the Greeley Sub on the single main, a pair of diesel engines on the back of the train will pull the train on the track in the foreground, back to Cheyenne.
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