The Ski Train, led by UP 1989 makes its way out of the shortest tunnel in the Tunnel District (Tunnel 29) and crosses the bridge at MP 36.5. The tracks cross South Boulder Creek at this location for most of the remainder of the trip west to the Moffat Tunnel.
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Unfortunately, the clouds didn't quite cooperate with me here. There was sun further up the mountain and further down too! Regardless, UP 1989 leads on the point of the Ski Train as the train enters the siding at Plain for a meet with an eastbound coal load.
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The Ski Train twists it way into the siding at Plain to meet with an eastbound coal load that is currently up near Tunnel 10. Due to mechanical problems with SKTX 289, UP 1989 has been borrowed from UP to help for the day.
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The Ski Train, led by the Rio Grande Heritage Unit UP 1989, emerges from a thick fog that has engulfed the Denver-Metro area. By the time the train reaches Clay it will have climbed completely out of the fog.
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Problem with one of the three F40's (SKTX 289) typically used on the Ski Train resulted in a rare treat! UP loaned the Rio Grande Heritage Unit to the Ski Train for the weekend to assist with the pull. Here, under crystal clear blue skies, the train is about to duck into Tunnel 1.
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Climbing up from Coal Creek Canyon, UP 1989 leads the Ski Train on the approach to Tunnel 1. Wind here was sustained at about 15 MPH with gusts as high as 50 MPH!
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High winds (for the third straight day) have created some snow drifts along the tracks. The tracks just west of the grade crossing at Blue Mountain are at the base of a hill. Snow blows right off the hill and onto the tracks. No problem though. UP 1989 relocates one of the drifts on the point of the Ski Train.
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It seems to be rare enough to catch UP 1989 out in daylight, but it was a special treat to find it leading the Ski Train! Here, the train is passing through Leyden near Alkire Estates. Ralston Valley High School, Arvada's newest High School, is visible on the right side of image just over half way up.
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On a windy, overcast Saturday morning, UP 1989 leads the Ski Train west through Leyden on the way to Winter Park. UP 1989 is temporarily filling in for SKTX 289, the third F40PH.
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One of the three F40PH's used on the Ski Train - SKTX 289 - had some bearing problems and was sent to Burnham for repairs. The stars aligned just right and the Rio Grande Heritage Unit was available. Here, UP 1989 leads the train west through Leyden.
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On a very quiet Colorado morning, SKTX 242 leads the Ski Train west. Much of the three feet of snow that fell in a blizzard one week ago remains on the ground. The head end of the train has just crossed over CO-72 at the base of Coal Creek Canyon.
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The Ski Train rounds the curve out of Clay toward Blue Mountain on its first run of the season. Fogs rests amongst some of the shorter buildings in the Denver area in the distance.
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Unfortunately, the classic Rio Grande block signals at Chemical have been replaced by a single mast signal (with a head facing each direction). Regardless, this classic view at MP 14.5 still looks good with the Kansas on the back of the westbound Ski Train.
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The Ski Train makes its first of 43 trips for the 2006-2007 Ski Season early on the morning of December 27. The train is booked nearly to its 850 person capacity as it hustles west toward the intermediate signals at "Chemical", in between Leyden and Rocky.
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SKTX 242, the lead F40PH on the Ski Train, sits shut down on the point of the Ski Train on track two at Denver Union Station. The train is preparing for its last run of the 2006 summer season the following Saturday. Meanwhile, on track five, a spare P42DC (AMTK 187) sits on track five, should it be needed for anything.
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