AMTK 130 and AMTK 164 lead the Zephyr west of Tunnel 1. The baggage car is sporting the Phase 3 paint scheme that all the new baggage cars received. However, it has faded quite a bit. More than I would have expected considering how relatively new the baggage cars are.
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One of the first houses to actually start construction in the Canyon Pines development above the tracks at Tunnel 1 is visible in the distance. AMTK 130 is leading the Zephyr into Tunnel 1.
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AMTK 130 and AMTK 164 lead the Zephyr west by Blue Mountain Drive and the hotbox detector at MP 22.6. Rather cool to catch two heritage units on the point of the Zephyr.
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With the 15 MPH slow order behind, the westbound Zephyr is accelerating on the main at Eisele (Clay), just west of the east switch.
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On the north ridge of Big Ten Curve, the California Zephyr is approaching a green signal at the east end of Eisele (Clay).
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AMTK 130 is leading the Zephyr at 15 MPH on the north edge of Big Ten Curve. Once the train reaches Eisele (Clay) above in the distance, it will be able to accelerate up to track speed.
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This morning, the Zephyr was led by a pair of heritage units, include the Phase 2 unit (AMTK 130) and the Phase 4 unit (AMTK 164). The train is just west of Rocky, starting up on Big Ten Curve.
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The Phase 2 heritage unit has been the most elusive of Amtrak's specially painted units for me to personally get pictures of. The unit seems to have avoided the California Zephyr. I've only seen it a few times since it was unveiled in 2011. This morning, it, along with AMTK 164 (the Phase 4 heritage unit) lead the Zephyr west of Rocky.
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The Zephyr was lucky enough to receive not one, but two heritage units on this westbound run! AMTK 130 (Phase 2) and AMTK 164 (Phase 4) lead the Zephyr by the west end of Rocky, on a 15 MPH slow order (due to heat).
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Just east of Plain, the eastbound Zephyr approaches the west portal of Tunnel 1, prepared to slow down for a 15 MPH heat-related slow order on the opposite side of Tunnel 1. I really like this perspective, but the summer months are often the only time it is possible to shoot the eastbound Zephyr here in daylight. Most of the year, this scene is cast in shadows by the time the Zephyr shows up.
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AMTK 25 and AMTK 79 cross over the Gross Dam Road grade crossing here at Crescent. Despite carrying quite a bit of traffic on a daily basis, this grade crossing has lights and bells, but thus far, no gates have been intalled.
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As the eastbound Zephyr wraps around the long curve near the west end of Crescent, lighting shifts from the side of the train to a full on backlit scene as the Continental Divide is clearly visible off in the distance.
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If you are standing at the grade crossing at Crescent, it feels as though the west end must be just around the corner. However, the curve headed west from the crossing is actually quite long. Here, the head end of the eastbound Zephyr is not yet close enough to activate the grade crossing, and the end of the train is at the west switch around the bend.
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Both the westbound and eastbound Zephyrs had a Phase 7 P42DC as the second unit on the train today. Here, AMTK 25 (one of the older P42s) and AMTK 79 lead the Zephyr at the west end of Crescent.
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The eastbound Zephyr, running about 45 minutes late, knocks down a green signal at the west end of Crescent. The Zephyr has navigated roughly one third of the Tunnel District, having passed through Tunnels 29 to 19. East of Crescent, Tunnels 18 to Tunnel 1 await.
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