In a frozen winter wonderland at the east end of Clay (Eisele), the Winter Park Express heads west on the main track. AMTK 146 is leading this morning, so AMTK 75 will lead on the way home this evening.
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BNSF's eastbound Provo-Denver is stopped in the siding at Eisele (Clay) to meet the westbound Winter Park Express. The sun is shining through a light layer of clouds, creating a nice glint off the side of the Superliners on the Ski Train.
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The Winter Park Express has come to a stop on the main track at Eisele (Clay) due to a red signal at the west end. UP's DS-378 is unable to get the switch to lock up, so the conductor will have to put it in hand throw and the train will get authority to flag by the red. Meanwhile, BNSF's Provo-Denver has slowly started to roll east in the siding toward the east end.
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DS-378 has given the Winter Park Express authority to pass a red signal at the west end of Eisele (Clay). However, PTC is being difficult and not accepting the authority, preventing the train from being able to continue west. The engineer is talking to the dispatcher as well as UP's PTC Help Desk.
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An arctic winter storm moved in from the north yesterday. It brought with it around four inches of snow and brought the temperature way down. After 53°F (11°C) on Thursday, it is currently -2°F (-19°C) outside as the Winter Park Express sits on the main at Eisele, working on resolving a PTC issue to proceed west.
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While the engineer works with the PTC Help Desk to resolve a PTC issue, the conductors trek their way through snow in -2°F (-19°C) weather toward the switch at the west end. They'll have to put the switch in hand throw and align it for the main for the train to continue west.
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The morning Winter Park Express is finally in a scene better representative of its name! Snow covers the ground as well as the trees here at the west end of Eisele (Clay) as the train heads west toward the Winter Park Ski Resort.
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AMTK 146 and AMTK 75 have been the power on the Winter Park Express all season long thus far. This morning, AMTK 146 has the duty to lead the train west by snow frozen to pine trees in temperatures that are less than 0°F. The orange bag covering the front coupler will protect it from snow and ice, keeping it clear and allowing the crew to easily run around the train at Fraser.
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The Winter Park Express Ski Train rolls by the hotbox detector at MP 22.6, at Blue Mountain, between Eisele (Clay) and Plain. The detector will correctly report 36 axles on the train, and a chilly 0°F.
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In early morning light, Amtrak's Winter Park Express Ski Train is climbing the 2% grade in the snow on the approach to Tunnel 1.
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When it comes to a picture of the Winter Park Express, you simply could not ask for better conditions! An arctic front moved in yesterday, bringing around four inches of snow and below zero temperatures. Today, thanks to the cold weather, the snow is sticking around under clear skies. The Ski Train is approaching the east portal of Tunnel 1 on its trip west.
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West of Leyden, the morning Winter Park Express is about 30 minutes late as it kicks up fresh snow. The train encountered an issue with a switch in Denver, causing the delay of getting out of town.
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The morning Zephyr is moving along at track speed west of Leyden on a frigid January morning. The distance, you can see the surface of Welton Reservoir has half frozen over with ice. The temperature is a chilly 6°F (-14°C) at the moment.
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I cannot see much of the tracks from my current vantage point, but I can see just enough to catch the two P42DCs and baggage car as the California Zephyr makes its way west just west of the CO-72 overpass at the base of Coal Creek Canyon.
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From above Tunnel 1, we see the California Zephyr as it climbs the roughly 2% from the base of Coal Creek Canyon up to the east portal of Tunnel 1. This, of course, is the first of 28 tunnels the train will pass through prior to reaching the Moffat Tunnel. Four inches of fresh snow remains on the ground and in the trees this morning, setting up a perfect winter scene.
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