Cheyenne Frontier Days is here once again! UP 844 was once again on the point of the train, making the 100 mile trip from Denver to Cheyenne. Here, the train is at Hazeltine, running on clear signals. Engineer Ed Dickens looks ahead out the window.
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UP 844 and UP 1943 lead the northbound Cheyenne Frontier Days train at Hazeltine. UP 1943 was the diesel unit chosen to give an assist to UP 844 this year. A diesel engine is always added to help maintain track speed and offer some dynamics on the downhill stretches.
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My favorite curve for morning shots on the Greeley Sub is just north of Platteville. UP 844 and UP 1943 lead the train through the curve this year, with the typical impressive passenger consist.
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UP 844 makes a stop in Greeley as crowds of people flock to check out the train. A few passengers from Greeley boarded the train for the remainder of the trip to Cheyenne.
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With its station stop in Greeley complete, UP 844 slowly starts to pull north, make sure everyone is clear of the tracks as it rolls. Starting up, UP 844 lets a puff of smoke out of the stack.
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Considering the hundreds of people that were present to check out UP 844 and the Cheyenne Frontier Days train, I was pretty happy I managed to get this roster shot in Greeley with only a single person in the shot!
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With engineer Ed Dickens at the throttle, other members of UP's steam team ride in the cab of UP 844 as the train slowly picked up speed, departing the depot at Greeley northbound.
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The grade from Greeley, CO to Speer Jct, WY is a consist climb northbound. However, the grade increases from an average of 1% to 1.2% north of Carr. The Cheyenne Frontier Days train slows down a bit for the climb as UP 844 has work hard to pull the passenger train. Here, the train is rounding the curve toward Terry Ranch Road.
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Even though this shot did not have the best lighting of the day, overall I believe it was my favorite shot. UP 844 and UP 1943 are leading the Cheyenne Frontier Days train toward the Terry Ranch Road overpass just south of Speer Junction.
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Approaching the signal bridge at CP W511 (just west of Cheyenne), UP 844 will cross over from Main 3 to Main 1 in order to stop at the Cheyenne Depot, allowing its passengers to disembark.
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A westbound manifest starts pulling on Main 4 at CP W511. The train had stopped east of the road, allowing photographers to get shots of the Cheyenne Frontier Days a few minutes earlier
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An SD70ACe, a C44-9W and an SD70M start pulling on a very heavy manifest on Main 4 just outside of Cheyenne. The train is originating from the yard in Cheyenne and is preparing to head west after switching.
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BNSF's Laurel to Denver manifest has a track warrant to head south from Cheyenne to Owl Canyon. In the foreground, one of UP's signals at Speer Junction is visible. This signal protects the east leg of wye where the Greeley Sub starts.
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With the Wyoming flag unfurled on the front of UP 844, the engine (and train) roll backward on the east leg of the wye at Speer Jct. It is, of course, necessary to turn the train around for the evening trip back to Denver. The nearest wye is at Speer, roughly eight miles away from the depot in Cheyenne.
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The dispatcher has thrown the switch to the west leg of the wye and given a signal to UP 844. It is kicking up some smoke as it start pulling up the grade.
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