RMRX 8021, a rebuilt GP40-3, leads the eastbound Rocky Mountaineer "Rockies to the Red Rocks" train out of the east portal of Tunnel 1. Passengers started their trip the previous day, departing Moab, UT in the mid-afternoon. They spent the night in Glenwood Springs last night and are now completing their trip to Denver.
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Afternoon thunderstorms have given rise to dramatic clouds this evening as the eastbound Rocky Mountaineer crosses Blue Mountain Road Crossing. The train has roughly 25 miles remaining in its trip in to the yard.
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The scene around the Blue Mountain Road Crossing is summarized in a single word: GREEN! The Rocky Mountaineer is passing through the beautiful, lush scene, brought on thanks to huge levels of rainfall this May. As of this picture, this May has seen nearly 6 inches of rain the Denver area...the fourth wettest May on record.
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The eastbound Rocky Mountaineer knocks down a clear (green) signal at the east end of Eisele (Clay). The train is rolling through at speeds lower than maximum track speed, allowing passengers to enjoy the pleasant May evening and incredible views.
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On a day that has seen some significant thunderstorms, the Zephyr glides along east of Plain, approach Tunnel 1, under mostly cloudy skies on its trip east toward Denver.
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Former UP dome car 7003, now the Charter Club, and St James Place, now both Charter cars, bring up the tail end of the eastbound Zephyr, catching a ride to a destination somewhere to the east.
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The eastbound Zephyr has just crossed CO-72 at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. The train is moving in-and-out of shadows from the many clouds in the western sky. A pair of privately own cars bring up the tail end of the Zephyr on this Friday evening.
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AMTK 27 and AMTK 158 lead the eastbound Zephyr around the curve, away from the Blue Mountain Road Crossing through a remarkably green scene, thanks to the fourth wettest May in recorded history in the Denver area.
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One of the two engineers in the cab of the eastbound Zephyr has the window open and is checking out the drone, which is pacing the train as it approaches the west switch of Eisele (Clay).
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The engineer on the eastbound Zephyr offer a friendly wave as the train departs from the east end of Eisele (Clay). The train will now wrap roughly 270° as it comes around Big Ten Loop and descends down in to Rocky.
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Heading in to Big Ten Loop, passengers riding in these two privately owned "Charter" cars enjoy some of their final elevated views of the plains. In a matter of minutes, the Zephyr will be leaving the curves of the Rockies behind, and head out on to the plains.
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The eastbound Zephyr has just passed by the open hoppers that have been on Big Ten Loop for around 52 years. The train slowly descends down the 1.7% grade, taking the tracks down the final bit of elevation to the relatively flat plains.
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A bit of sunshine breaks through the mostly cloudy skies to the west as the eastbound Zephyr approaches a clear (green) signal at the west end of Rocky. The dome car, now the Charter Club, was originally UP 7003. The open ended car bringing up the rear is the St James Place.
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The eastbound Zephyr has sped up to track speed and is meeting a westbound BNSF manifest (the Denver-Provo) at Leyden. Two private cars bring up the tail end of Amtrak, almost disguising the train true identity.
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After meeting the eastbound Zephyr, the engineer has turned on the headlights and is preparing to throttle up to depart the siding to the west in brilliant afternoon sunlight.
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