A look down from the plateau where CO-72 is located, down to where Rocky is located. The westbound Zephyr, with AMTK 83 and AMTK 151 are in charge this morning.
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Mid-April is not too late for snow to fall in the Denver-Metro area. Indeed, the area got a surprise blast of snow overnight! The westbound Zephyr is making it way up the grade on the north edge of Big Ten.
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The westbound Zephyr is right on time as it climbs its way west out of Rocky, up and around Big Ten. Leaves are just starting to bloom on the trees.
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The Zephyr wraps around the final bend of Big Ten Curve, toward a clear (green) signal at the east end of Eisele (Clay). It is a cloudy and morning with fresh snow on the ground. After a high temperature in the mid-70°Fs yesterday, it is only 30°F this morning.
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It has been rumored that the Zephyr will have an additional sleeper and an additional coach added to it sometime this spring. That hasn't started quite yet, as the Zephyr is still running with only seven Superliners.
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It is a beautiful, albeit cold morning as the westbound Zephyr heads west through the cut west of Crescent. The train received a restricting signal (flashing red) at the west end of Crescent. A slide fence has been activated along the main between Crescent and Cliff.
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Quite a bit of snow fell in the Denver-Metro area and in the high country of the Rockies overnight. The result is a fantastic, powdered scene here between the west end of Crescent and Tunnel 19.
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I really like the contrasting foliage all visible right here in a single scene. As a loaded BNSF coal train heads west through Barbara's Gulch, the foliage in the gulch is covered in snow. Meanwhile, warming temperatures has melted most of the snow outside of the gulch.
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Three units lead this westbound BNSF coal load on the main at Rocky. A few hours ago, the ground was entirely covered in snow. But rapidly rising temperatures, now around 38°F, is resulting in the rapid melting of the snow.
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A BNSF coal load climbs Big Ten Curve, headed west on the Moffat. The train loaded in the Powder River in Wyoming, and is headed for the Valmy Power Plant in Nevada. This coal train's days are actually likely limited. Like so many other power plants, the Valmy station is transitioning to natural gas. The coal-burning stations are slated for retirement by the end of 2025.
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Helping on this westbound coal load is a Norfolk Southern AC44C6M. I actually shot this exact unit about 24 hours earlier, when it was sitting near the BNSF Engine House in Denver, awaiting its next assignment. At the time, I would not have guessed its next assignment would take it west on the Moffat.
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