The westbound Zephyr is dodging shadows under partly cloudy skies as the train climbs the grade toward Big Ten. The area around Big Ten is really starting to green up as we get deeper in to spring!
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The westbound Zephyr, running right on time, makes the right turn from Big Ten Curve by the signals at the east end of Eisele (Clay) on the main.
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The number on AMTK 59 (the second unit) has definitely faded a bit and is getting a little bit difficult to read...from a distance, anyway. Interestingly, the conductor's door on the unit must not have been latched tight as it appears to have swung open. The units lead the morning Zephyr through Eisele (Clay), which is starting to green up here in spring.
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After a long, cold winter, its Rocky Mountaineer season once again! The first revenue run of the "Rockies to the Red Rocks" charges west on the main at Plain, approaching Rainbow Cut.
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The ground at the west end of Plain narrows pretty rapidly as the siding comes to an end and the single track main continues west in to the Tunnel District. The Rocky Mountaineer is just about to start the run west through the district, leaving Plain behind and approaching Tunnel 2.
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The crew of RMRX 8021 is facing the east portal of Tunnel 2 and the official start of the Tunnel District, just west of the west switch of Plain. The weather is very pleasant for this first revenue run of the train, which is headed for Glenwood Springs, CO for the night before continuing on to Moab, UT tomorrow.
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A UP officer's special, said to be carrying an executive vice president for the company, emerges from the west portal of the Moffat Tunnel, passing by the platform the Winter Park Express Ski Train uses.
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When UP runs a passenger special, they always make sure the power is pristine and matches wonderfully with the equipment. Here, a pair of SD70Ms leads 11 cars by the Winter Park ski resort. The resort is still open, and plans to remain open "as long there is enough snow".
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A UP officer's special charges west on the main track between Fraser and Tabernash. The ski runs at Winter Park, some of which are still open as of this picture in late-April, offer a fantastic backdrop to the train as it parallels US-40.
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Just west of the Continental Divide, the valley really opens up and passenger trains can reach 60 MPH between Fraser and Tabernash. This westbound UP officer's special is not moving anywhere that fast as it is approaching an Approach (yellow) signal at East Tabernash. The train will hold the main to wait for the eastbound California Zephyr.
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A UP officer's special sits stopped on the main track at Tabernash. The train will be delayed around 15 minutes as it is waiting for the eastbound California Zephyr, which has just completed its station stop at Granby.
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UP 4533 and UP 4404 sit on the main at Tabernash, waiting for the arrival of the eastbound California Zephyr, currently in Fraser Canyon. Plenty of snow still remains on the Continental Divide, as well as on the runs at the Winter Park ski resort. Note some of the houses in Tabernash in the background are located in between the main track and the siding.
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The eastbound Zephyr makes a somewhat sharp right turn into the siding at Tabernash. The main and the siding are on very different alignments. This was originally done as steam engines were once based in Tabernash as a means of helping heaving eastbound up the grade to the Moffat Tunnel. Here, Amtrak skirts the mountain and some standing water at the west switch.
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The Continental Divide stands tall in the distance as a westbound UP officer's special is moving along at track speed west of Granby. The train overtook BNSF's Denver-Provo, which is sitting in the siding at Granby.
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A spot that has come to be known as the "Granby Overlook", west of Granby, a UP officer's special charges west toward the setting sun. As you can see, the skies are partly cloudy, and the train is moving in and out of the shadows on the trip west.
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