The westbound Zephyr has just emerged from Tunnel 1. The train had an Advanced Approach (yellow over yellow) at the previous intermediate. It will be taking the siding at Plain to meet an eastbound coal load that is already there waiting on it.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr appears to be headed directly toward an eastbound UP coal load. However, the Zephyr is actually lined in to the siding here for the meet. If you look closely at the signal, you can see it shows a Diverging Approach (red over yellow).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr diverges through the switch at East Plain and in to the siding, meeting an eastbound UP coal train that is holding the main. The conductor for that coal load is on the ground, ready to give a "roll by" to the Zephyr.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An eastbound UP coal train approaches a clear (green) signal at the east end of Plain after meeting the westbound Zephyr. In the distance, you can see the east portal of Tunnel 4. I was hoping that the coal train might taken long enough to start moving to get a shot with the Zephyr in the distance, but alas, no such luck.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This UP coal train loaded at the West Elk mine on the North Fork Branch and is now rolling east out of the east end of Plain. It will continue in to Denver on green signals.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of UP units that are both sporting the newest paint scheme (which, unfortunately, does not include wings on the nose) rolls east through the S-curve just east of Plain on the approach to Tunnel 1.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP 8436 kicked up a bit of exhaust when the head end of this coal load was in Tunnel 1. The resulting exhaust cloud rises up from the east portal as the train slowly rolls east down the roughly 2% grade.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An eastbound coal load departs the east end of Eisele (Clay) on a clear (green) signal on a beautiful January morning. You can see the standard trio of mid-train swing helpers in the distance, and a single DPU just out of sight around the corner in the distance.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
On the south side of Big Ten Curve, a pair of freshly painted UP units lead their coal train toward the wind break just out of view of the camera to the right. In the distance, not the trio of mid-train swing helpers, assisting in the dynamic braking effort of the train down the grade.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An eastbound UP coal load slowly rolls through Barbara's Gulch in between Rocky and Leyden. In the distance, you can clearly see the grade running through the west end of Eisele (Clay).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It is a beautiful January morning as an eastbound UP coal load rolls past a clear (green) signal at the intermediate signal at MP 16.1. While relatively rare in 2024, UP does still load a handful of coal trains on the North Fork Branch at the West Elk Mine, this train being one such example.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An eastbound coal load approach what remains of the turnout to the long defunct Chem Spur. The sole customer on the spur, Mesa Oil, moved to a new location in Denver about a decade ago when UP dropped service from twice a week to once a week. Once that happened and there were no longer customers on the spur, UP removed from the frog and it has been out of service ever since.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An SD70ACe and a C44ACM both sport UP's newest paint scheme as of 2023. The huge flag, which has been a prominent feature of the scheme for two decades, is no longer on the long hood, but instead is much smaller on either side of the nose. Additionally, and unfortunately in my opinion, the wings have also been removed from the nose.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The two lead units on an eastbound coal train pass by the metal monstrosity that was built about 50 years ago, having something to do with mining in the area.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A single ES44AC brings up the tail end of an eastbound coal load, rolling through Barbara's Gulch. In the distance, you can see a trio of mid-train swing helpers that will be removed from the train once it reaches Denver.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
