Considering that it is a quarter to 6 o'clock in the afternoon, you might think that this the eastbound California Zephyr sitting on Track 4 at Denver Union Station. In fact, this is a very late westbound Zephyr! The train is just over 10 hours late due to a BNSF derailment in Illinois.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
While stopped in Denver, the Amtrak P42DCs on the point of the Zephyr get their diesel fuel topped off. Here, the nozzle is hook up to AMTK 169 as an Amtrak employee supervises.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
From the end of Track 4, we look back toward the class "Union Station" sign. The sign itself is somewhat distorted from the head radiating off of AMTK 123.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A 10 hour later Westbound Zephyr sits on Track 4 at Denver Union Station, waiting for passenger to finish boarding and all the bags to be loaded to the train can depart west, hopefully making up a little time.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Zephyr picked up quite a few bug impacts on the journey across the plains and in to Denver. So, engineer Gary gets a little creative and uses a water bottle with some soap mixed in to attempt to clean off the windshield a bit.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It is very rare that the westbound Zephyr has light like this when it departs Denver! A BNSF derailment in Illinois resulted in the Zephyr being 10 hours late in to Denver. Here, the train is just west of Leyden and charging west through a "sucker hole" in the clouds.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It would figure that the one cloud in the sky that could get in the way and cast a shadow on the scene, did get in the way and cast a shadow just as a very late Zephyr rolls west. Looks like the guys in the cab have taken notice of the camera!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It is two minutes past 7 o'clock in the evening as the westbound Zephyr rounds the curve out of Eisele and approaches the grade crossing at Blue Mountain. Some fantastic lighting for the late CZ.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Every once in awhile, something happens that causes the Zephyr to be really late. This is one such example as the Zephyr is 10 hours late and rolling through awesome evening light at Blue Mountain. A BNSF manifest derailed in Illinois and, as a result, the Zephyr had to pull all the way back to Chicago and get re-routed on a different subdivision around the derailment.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Unfortunately for passengers, they will run out of sunlight in another 90 minutes and make most of the run to Glenwood Springs (and points west) in the dark. However, while unfortunate for the passengers, the evening lighting is really fantastic for pictures that would not normally be lit in such a manner!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An interesting scene in which the Zephyr happens to draw a light that splits the image between being lit and being cast in shadows as the train climbs toward Tunnel 1.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The head end of the westbound Zephyr is about to duck in to Tunnel 1 as it climbs its way up from the base of Coal Creek Canyon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
