Some clouds have moved in and are casting shadows in the area just west of Crescent as the Zephyr heads toward the east portal of Tunnel 19. Note the dam for Gross Reservoir in the distance, a primary supply of water for Denver and some of the surrounding areas.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
AMTK 155 leads the morning westbound Zephyr through a cut just west of Crescent. The train will follow the tracks through the curve in the foreground which lead in to the east portal of Tunnel 19. The train is almost 32 miles west of Denver Union Station here.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr knocks down a clear (green) signal at the west end of Crescent. The train is approaching one of the many cuts in the Tunnel District. Note the slide fences lining the tracks on both sides.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of Phase 5 P42DCs lead the westbound Zephyr on the main out the west end of Rocky. Meanwhile, a eastbound UP coal train (with a visiting CN unit on the rear) is starting to role east toward Denver.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Here is a shot you do not expect to see in Colorado! Amtrak westbound Zephyr meeting an eastbound coal train that has a Canadian National SD70M-2 bringing up the tail end. The blue and red contrast between the two railroads looks quite nice at the west switch of Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Throughout the course of a year, there is obviously lots of different color in the landscape as the season change. Of all the different scenes that appear, I think the scenes dominated by green landscape and blue skies are just about my favorite. Such is the case here as the westbound Zephyr emerges from Tunnel 1 and heads toward Plain.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The foliage has reached its peak green levels at Eisele in a beautiful scene as the westbound Zephyr passes by on the main track at Eisele (Clay). It does look like the Lounge car, third from the end, could stand to receive some cleaning and/or polishing.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Amtrak seems to be repainting P42DCs from Phase 5 to Phase 7 paint at a rate of around one every two weeks. AMTK 75 appears to be the latest to get the new scheme, second out on the westbound Zephyr this morning.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A mixed match set of P42DCs (one Phase 5, one Phase 7) leading the westbound Zephyr on the climb to Big Ten Loop on a beautiful Thursday morning in May.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr wraps around the curve at the base of the north edge of Big Ten Loop. AMTK 60 and (freshly painted) AMTK 75 are leading the train this morning.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
AMTK 71 leads another P42DC and a standard consist for the Zephyr out of the west end of Leyden. The train is crossing over Indiana Street, the busiest north-south road in Western Arvada.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr charges west on the main at Leyden. It's nice to see that the siding at Leyden is once again empty and available for meets after a string of empty well cars were stored there for close to five months! Well cars were tied down there early on the morning of January 3, 2024. Overnight on May 27, 2024, they were picked up and taken back to Denver.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Memorial Day 2024 finds a standard consist for the California Zephyr as it approaches the east portal of Tunnel 1. The latest P42DC to be repainted in the new Phase 7 scheme is AMTK 69, on the point this morning.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A Phase 7 P42DC (AMTK 69, the most recent repaint) leads AMTK 151 and a standard consist for the westbound Zephyr through the curves at Blue Mountain Drive.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
May and June tend to be the two greenest months of the year in the Denver area, and May has been no exception in 2024. The Zephyr passes west through Eisele amidst the great green grass.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
