The eastbound Canyon Spirit is on the main track at Rocky, meeting a string of ten light units that will be used as helpers on oil or coal trains.
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I think Union Pacific might has the largest range of paint conditions on their unit than any other current railroad. Some are in near-pristine condition, and other, like this unit, are badly faded.
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Even though the "glory days" of coal is long behind us, UP does still run both coal and oil trains on the Moffat. As they did 20 years ago, they still run occasion light power west out of Denver. They will either go to Glenwood Springs or Grand Junction to be used as swing helpers. The units are in the siding at Rocky, waiting to meet the Canyon Spirit.
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We are smack in the middle of the crazy hot days of summer, with the temp around 97ºF (37ºC), passengers on the Canyon Spirit are hopefully enjoying an air conditioned environment on the last 25 miles or so in to Denver.
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After hitting an oil truck in Rifle about two months ago, the Canyon Spirit has been using a pair of SD70Ms, leased from Union Pacific. Hopefully, the Canyon Spirit geeps will return soon. But in the meantime, the SD70Ms lead the eastbound train out of Plain, toward Tunnel 1.
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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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UP 4302 is an SD70M that was delivered to Union Pacific on January 29, 2001. It was part of a 1,000 unit order back in 2000, but the end of its life might be near. It has been in long term storage, and it is possible that it is getting ready to head to the torch.
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A pair of UP units sits near the car repair shop on Yard Track 25. It is not entirely clear why they are here, but it is possible that the SD70M might be getting ready to head off for scrap.
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Union Pacific's North Yard to BNSF's 31st Street yard transfer is getting ready to depart North Yard and head over to 31st Street with a long string of cars. UP and BNSF regularly interchange cars in Denver to accommodate customers' shipping needs.
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Denver is one of the largest metropolitan area in the United States that is not located near a fairly significant waterway (major river or lake). The South Platte River does run through Denver. However, as you can see in this shot with UP 7434 crossing the South Platte, it is not exactly the Mississippi River! Three units lead UP's MNYGR across the river on the Belt Industrial Lead.
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UP's daily MNYGR (Manifest, North Yard, CO to Green River, WY) is beginning its journey as it passes through the control point at the Stock Yards. The track to the right leads to Xcel Energy's Cherokee Power Plant. For decades, the power plant was powered by coal from mines in the Colorado high country. Today, the plant is powered by natural gas, so the track is no longer used.
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A look at UP's North Yard from the north, looking to the south. Among other things in the yard is a military train on Track 1. I presume the train originated from Fort Carson near Colorado Springs. Not sure where the equipment is headed.
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A trio of units lead a military train that is currently stopped on Track 1 in North Yard. A train of double stack containers waits to be unloaded at BNSF's Rennicks yard.
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A single ES44AC brings up the end of this eastbound coal load, which just rolled by the "Cold War Horse" statue. It is a life-sized statue of a horse wearing a gas mask and radioactive gear. It showed up here in 2015, about ten years after the cleanup of the Rocky Flat nuclear trigger plant had been completed.
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