Photo ID: 105004 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 2158 (2 Comments Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak After just passing the detector at MP 22.6, the Zephyr is about to wrap around the horseshoe curve at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. As has been typical for about two months, the Zephyr is running with just six Superliners and the Lounge car is located directly behind the Baggage car. The two Horizon cars (located between the power and the Baggage car) are headed for California to run on the Reno Fun Train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105003 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 1796 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The standard pair of P42DCs lead the westbound Zephyr through the curves at Blue Mountain and Coal Creek. Hard to believe that the P42s started showing up nearly 20 years ago (in November 1995) and replaced F40PHs as the primary locomotive about 17 years ago. How much life do they have left in them? And will Amtrak be able to secure funding to rebuild or replace them? Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105002 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 1539 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Due to bad weather in the midwest, the Zephyr is running six hours late west of Denver. Unfortunately, a little more time was lost when coming around Big Ten Loop. Due to high winds, there was a 10 MPH slow order around the curve, slowing down the Zephyr a bit more. Here, the train is rounding the curve from Eisele and approaching the grade crossing at Blue Mountain. You can see most of the Denver skyline near the right side of the image. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105001 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plastic (MP 16.1) Arvada, CO 1449 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr is about to knock down a clear signal at MP 16.1 (nicknamed Plastic). In the distance, you can see some cars driving on CO-93. The train is about to enter Barbara's Gulch and slow down quite a bit. Near the base of shadows up on the mountain, you can also see the tracks running through Eisele (formerly Clay). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105000 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1891 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A major snow storm hit the Illinois area the previous day, wreaking havoc on trains. Unfortunately, the Zephyr fell victim to the bad conditions and lost six hours between Chicago, IL and Omaha, NE. While not great for the passengers, it is nice for photography! When on time, both Zephyrs (eastbound and westbound) are always back lit around Denver. So it is nice to get some afternoon light here as the Zephyr heads west of Leyden on clear signals, trying to make up for some lost time. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104966 Date Shot Photo By Friday, January 23, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Barbara's Gulch (MP 15.9 to MP 17.2) Arvada, CO 1463 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A shortened westbound California Zephyr (only six Superliners instead of the typical seven) heads west through Barbara's Gulch. In peak passenger seasons, the Zephyr will run with nine Superliners. Eight tends to be the average. During the slow passenger season (typically winter), you'll usually find seven Superliners on the train. It has been said that Amtrak is taking advantage of the slow season to repair and/or refurbish some of the Superliners, hence only six on the train right now. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104965 Date Shot Photo By Friday, January 23, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Barbara's Gulch (MP 15.9 to MP 17.2) Arvada, CO 1704 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr is running right on time as it enters the east end of Barbara's Gulch. Note the Lounge Car located directly behind the baggage car. This is a fairly recent change for the Zephyr. The theory that has been floated is that the change was made to reduce the exhaust fumes in the coach cars (where more passengers are theoretically located) caused by the train going through tunnels. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104956 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS012 (East Leyden) Arvada, CO 2153 (1 Comment Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak I sure am envious of the passengers on board this particular Iowa Pacific passenger car! No doubt a great views out the sides, but the view forward or backwards from the dome up top must be truly spectacular. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104955 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS012 (East Leyden) Arvada, CO 1813 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr had a pair of Iowa Pacific (private) passenger cars along for the ride on this morning. Warm passengers get a great view of a morning blizzard. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104953 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS012 (East Leyden) Arvada, CO 1995 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Got snow? The westbound Zephyr knocks down a clear signal at east Leyden and kicks up a lot of the white stuff amid a fairly heavy morning blizzard. Note the Lounge Car running directly behind the baggage car. It has been rumored this is being done to reduce the amount of diesel fumes that make it in to the coach cars. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104951 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, January 18, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP RG156 (West Range) Range, CO 1557 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Glenwood Springs (UP) Amtrak After meeting its counterpart at the siding of Range, the westbound Zephyr is now gliding downhill along the bank of the Colorado River. You couldn't ask for a more perfect January day than this. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104950 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, January 18, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP RG156 (West Range) Range, CO 1499 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Glenwood Springs (UP) Amtrak I really like the siding of Range. It is nearly 8,000 feet long and basically straight as an arrow! You can get a great, elevated perspective from the west end, too. Case in point is a look at the westbound Zephyr as it departs Range. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104949 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, January 18, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Range (7,720 ft) Range, CO 1476 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Glenwood Springs (UP) Amtrak Unless one of the Zephyrs is running extremely late, an eastbound Zephyr and westbound Zephyr meet once daily somewhere in Colorado. An example of one such meeting is happening here at the siding of Range. The eastbound Zephyr heads down the main as the westbound Zephyr awaits a clear signal at west Range to continue toward Glenwood Springs and beyond. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104948 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, January 18, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP RG156 (West Range) Range, CO 1530 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Glenwood Springs (UP) Amtrak When both Zephyrs are running on time, they will frequently meet at either Dotsero or Range. Dotsero is probably the more common siding...however, on this day, there was a string of empty hoppers being stored in the siding at Dotsero. Consequently, the eastbound and westbound Zephyrs are meeting at Range. The westbound Zephyr is holding the siding at the eastbound Zephyr knocks down the signal at the west end. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104947 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, January 18, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Glenwood Springs Glenwood Springs, CO 1726 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Glenwood Springs (UP) Amtrak Why is Glenwood Springs such a popular destination for people (whether it be by train or car)? It is largely thanks to the hot springs pool and lodge, seen in the background on the other side of the Colorado River. Water comes out of the ground at 122°F. It is then cooled before being placed in to either the large pool (1 million gallons of water at 90°F) or the "therapy" pool (90,000 gallons of water at 104°F). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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