After several weeks of overcast, gloomy morning, there isn't a cloud in the sky as the Zephyr departs the west end of Rocky, starting the climb up Big Ten Curve.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Under partly-cloudy skies, a westbound BNSF oil train heads west on the main at Eisele. Most BNSF oil trains have six units on the head end, which are reconfigured 3x3 for the trip east. This train, however, only has three units. BNSF will likely bring in three other units on a different train, dropping them off at the transload facility at Wash.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An SD70M and a well-worn SD70ACe lead a 22-car ballast train. The ballast is in the classic green-ish ballast cars that UP has used for decades. The train is about to leave the siding at Rocky eastbound on a green signal.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After meeting a westbound oil train, whose head end is just coming around Big Ten Loop in the distance, UP 4630 and train are slowly starting to roll eastbound on the siding at Rocky, having receiving a clear (green) signal at the east end.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A fairly short eastbound ballast train sits on the siding at Rocky, having just met a westbound oil train. The two cars that have been in the house track at Rocky for several weeks, one of which derailed on Big Ten, are finally gone, having been taken back to Denver.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This SD70ACe has certainly seen better days. The flag is almost entirely gone on the long hood on the conductor's side. The unit is currently on a ballast train. It's possible the unit has seen a lot of time on work trains.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Not too often you find an SD70M on the point of a mainline train these days. UP 4630 happened to be the leader on an eastbound ballast train. The train took the siding at Rocky to meet a westbound oil train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Classic shot of a colorful consist. Under partly cloudy skies, this westbound oil train is approaching the east tunnel of Tunnel 1. It has been an exceptionally wet and cool spring, so the scenery is still very green. An incredibly welcome sight.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This oil train is running on UP rails, with a Norfolk Southern leader, and a BNSF crew! Quite the interesting mix. The yellow hand rails on the lead unit really pop in the scene as the train curves toward Tunnel 1.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Always like trying to get a roster shot of a foreign visitor in the area. Particularly when it is a visitor from the south or north of the border! Second out on this westbound oil train is a Ferromex SD70ACe. Ferromex, of course, is one of the two largest railroads in Mexico.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Last week, UP officially wrapped up a majority of the construction on Big Ten and reopened the mainline between switches at Rocky. There is still some minor work happening, but all the speed restrictions have been lifted. This NS/BNSF oil train climbs the north edge at track speed.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It seems that a business east of the Mississippi has a contract with the Wash oil loadout. The train originates on Norfolk Southern and is turned over to BNSF. However, most of the time, the train has been running with at least a few NS units all the way to the oil transloaded facility. On this particular day, an interesting NS/FXE/NS trio lead the train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The eastbound Zephyr is on the main at the south end of North Yard, alongside a lot of double stack containers in BNSF's Rennicks Yard. One of several thunderstorms has moved east and is continuing to drop a lot of rain on the eastern plains. The train is approaching an approach signal at Fox Jct.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A massive summer thunderstorm has passed through the area and is moving out onto the eastern plains. The sun is breaking through the clouds to the left, offering some great storm lighting as the eastbound Zephyr passes alongside North Yard and Rennicks, just about 15 minutes away from its station stop at Union Station.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The eastbound Zephyr departed Fraser almost an hour late, but made up about 45 minutes on the trip down the Moffat. Here, it is on the main, coming by North Yard (UP) and Rennicks (BNSF). Tracks 1-5 are all empty of cars this afternoon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
