Not too far east of Sulphur, the tracks cross over the Colorado River just after passing underneath US-40. A trio of elephant-style BNSF units leads the train eastbound.
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Back in Byers Canyon, this BNSF oil train is working to climb the grade along a very low Colorado River. Byers Canyon offers several fantastic vantage points, even just from along US-40 on the south side of the canyon.
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As is typical on BNSF's oil trains, three units lead the train eastbound (with three more DPUs on the tail end). The trailing SD70ACe is kicking doing a slight 1970s GE impersonation, with visible exhaust kicking up. The train is between Flat and Byers Canyon.
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After meeting the westbound Zephyr, this eastbound oil train is throttling up with a green signal to depart Flat.
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As is has been the case for years (even decades at this point), traffic on the Moffat can be feast or famine. It was closer to the famine side of the spectrum on this day, with this BNSF oil train being the only freight train I saw in 10 hours. The oil train is in the siding, meeting the westbound Zephyr, zipping by on the main.
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The conductor on this eastbound BNSF oil train is on the ground at the east switch of Flat, ready to give a roll by to the westbound Zephyr.
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In Byers Canyon, the westbound Zephyr is following the headwaters of the Colorado River, moving along at about 20 MPH. The tight curves in Byers Canyon necessitate a slower speed.
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AMTK 203 (Operation Lifesaver) and AMTK 176 (Phase 7) lead a baggage car and the typical (summer) confirmation of eight Superliners west past the "Granby Overlook" (my name for it).
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After a very brief station stop in Granby, the westbound California Zephyr is accelerating toward track speed on the main, just west of town.
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Amtrak still has way more Phase 5 P42DCs than anything else, so it is always a treat to find a couple of non-Phase 5 units leading the Zephyr. Here, the train is approaching Tabernash on the west slope of the Moffat.
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A lot of weekend travelers, campers, hikers, etc are trying to make their way back to Denver on US-40. The result is a long line of cars as the westbound Zephyr approaches a green signal at the east end of Tabernash. In the distance, you can see some of the currently bone-dry ski runs at Winter Park.
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The westbound Zephyr is running a little behind schedule as it passes by the signals at the west switch of Winter Park. The next stop at Fraser is just a few minutes ahead.
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AMTK 203, the Operation Lifesaver unit, leads the westbound Zephyr as it passes through the OS at the west end of Winter Park.
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This manifest that arrived from North Platte, NE included this GP38-2, whose paint has definitely seen better days! It likely was due for an inspection and/or needed some maintenance, which would be why it was in North Platte.
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UP's MNPNY (Manifest from North Platte to North Yard) is sitting on Bypass 1 at C&S Junction. North Yard could not receive the train when it first arrived, so it was tied down here. A new crew has just arrived to pull forward beyond Pecos Crossover, and then back the train into North Yard. Nine units were leading the train! Most of which are likely just power transfers.
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