HZRX is a leased SD40M-2 from Horizon Rail Leasing. It started life decades ago as an SD45 and has now found life after Class 1 railroads.
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Test Run 2024! With the 2024 season of the Rocky Mountaineer's Rockies to the Red Rockies starting in two weeks, a test run ran today, heading west from Denver toward Glenwood Springs (tonight) and Moab (tomorrow). The GP40-3s sporting the RM paint had some mechanical issues last year and the RM had to borrow power from UP several times. This year, two six-axle units have been brought in (leased) to help out the train.
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Just east of the east portal of Tunnel 1, four units are kicking up some exhaust, pulling the up the 2% grade. The train is (mostly) empty, as this is just a test run for the upcoming 2024 season.
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In a scene repeated countless times for well over a century, a westbound train crosses over CO-72 at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. On this particular morning, the westbound happens to be a test run of the Rocky Mountaineer. The two brighter blue units cut between the RM GP40-2s are leased units to help with the run this weekend.
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A quartet of units leads the westbound Rockies to the Red Rocks out the west end of Eisele (Clay) on a test run west in advance to the start of the 2024 season, coming in two weeks.
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RMRX 2021 leads a westbound test of the 2024 Rocky Mountaineer on the main at Eisele (Clay). A former SD45 (now an SD40M-2) and an SD18M are on lease for the season to assist in the trips between Denver and Moab.
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A pair of bright blue leaser units will be helping out the Rocky Mountaineer this season. Last year, the Mountaineer frequently borrowed power from UP when there were problems with the GP40-3s. The two leasers are both six axle units, making for an interesting look, spliced between the RM GP40-3s on the point of the train as it climbs Big Ten Curve.
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A test run of the Rockies to the Red Rocks is heading west out of Rocky on the climb up Big Ten Curve. Note the tracks up the hillside at Eisele (Clay), where the train will be in just a few minutes.
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Last season, the Rocky Mountaineer had some issues with the GP40-3s used for power. This year, two EMD leasers came to town to assist with the trips. An SD40M-2 (formerly an SD45) and an SD18M will help out the Mountaineer for the 2024 season. After finding (and fixing) an air leak, the train is about to depart west out of Rocky.
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In preparation for the 2024 season, the Rocky Mountaineer's "Rockies to the Red Rocks" is making a test run west. The train is approaching Little Ten Curve, passing alongside a westbound BNSF coal load currently tied down in the siding at Rocky.
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Seeing as how it is currently the "off season" for the Rocky Mountaineer, it makes sense that maintenance activities would be taking place. Indeed, the truck from one of the passengers cars has been removed from the car itself. Hydraulic jacks have been used on either side of the passenger car to keep the car elevated while the truck is removed.
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The pair of GP40-3s that serve as the power on the Rocky Mountaineer's "Rockies to the Red Rocks" are currently sitting in UP's 36th Street Yard, shut down and waiting for the start of the spring season.
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The westbound Rocky Mountaineer approaches the east portal of Tunnel 8. Tunnel 8 is one of the longer tunnels in the Tunnel District, and would be a scary one to walk through as the entire tunnel is curved.
Note: DO NOT WALK through train tunnels! The above statement is a theoretical one only.
About two miles west of Plain, the westbound Rocky Mountaineer continues to gain elevation as it passes through Tunnel 7. This is close to the west (technically north) end of the portion of the Tunnel District from which the Colorado plains are visible.
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The Rocky Mountaineer has just started its journey west through the Tunnel District as it emerges from Tunnel 3 and the head end approaches Tunnel 4. In the background on the left side of the image, you can actually see the west portal of Tunnel 2.
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