This eastbound loaded oil train has been making track speed since Cliff, but is coming up on a 15 MPH slow order. The slow order is about a mile long, and there is a second two mile long slow order around Big Ten Curve. The crew only has 70 minutes remaining on the clock, so the train will take the siding at Rocky and tie down.
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BNSF 5830 just met the westbound Rocky Mountaineer, and is now departing Cliff on the main track eastbound. East Cliff is a bit of an interesting OS, as it is about 1,000 feet long. The curve of the track prevents the east switch from being visible from the grade crossing, so the signals at the east end are quite a ways west of the switch itself.
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The Rocky Mountaineer is running west through the siding at Cliff, meeting a BNSF oil train that is on the main. DS-378 is keeping the oil train on the main to help it keep its speed up after the meet. The crew has less than two hours left on the clock. At this point, it is not clear if the train will be able to make it in to Denver or not.
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It can be a bit of a challenge getting shots in the area around West Cliff as it is on the north side of a mountain and, as such, almost always cast in shadows. However, this shot of an eastbound BNSF oil train turned out quite well.
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BNSF 5830 leads a unit oil train across the South Beaver Creek Road grade crossing about a half mile west of Cliff. This road leads from CO-72 to Pacolus, a private neighborhood along the tracks and South Boulder Creek between Cliff and Rollins.
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In the canyon between Tolland and Rollins, this BNSF oil train is quickly rolling east at track speed. The crew is running short on time, with only two hours left to work. For now, the train is following South Boulder Creek and Tolland Road, trying to get as close to Denver as possible with the time left.
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BNSF 5830 and two additional GEs lead an eastbound loaded oil train across South Boulder Creek about a mile east of the east switch of Tolland. You could not ask for a more perfect morning on the last day of August, with barely a cloud in the sky. The peaks in the distance are the Continental Divide, which the Moffat Tunnel runs beneath.
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The westbound Zephyr has taken the siding at Tolland to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train, which is holding the main. In the distance, peaks of the Continental Divide extend above 12,000 feet above sea level, taking the tops above timber line.
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As a BNSF oil train heads west on the main toward a green signal at the west end of Leyden, we also note a red flag in the middle of the siding. The red flag is protecting a manual derail that has been installed on the north rail beyond the red flag. The derail is protecting a string of 40 or so gondolas stored in the siding of Leyden.
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Six units lead this BNSF oil train westbound on the main at Leyden. The train is passing by a string of about 40 gondolas that are currently in long term storage here in the siding.
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At the east end of the narrowest part of Barbara's Gulch, BNSF's Provo-Denver is headed east toward Denver. The train just departed Rocky and is passing underneath CO-93. In the distance, you can clearly see the wind break on Big Ten Curve.
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An eastbound BNSF Provo-Denver manifest rolls east on the main track at Rocky. It is passing by a UP work crew and the West Local. The local is going to pick up four gondolas from the house track, and leave two others that are filled with tie plates. Some additional maintenance of way is tied down in the house track.
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It is August, which means sunflowers are pretty much in full bloom in the Denver-Metro area. Multiple sunflowers are growing on the south edge of Big Ten Curve as BNSF's Provo-Denver heads east on the final 20-ish miles of the journey.
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BNSF 5699 has a bit of toaster syndrome on the long hood! At some point, excess heat likely burned off the paint. On this day, the Heritage 2 unit is leading BNSF's Provo-Denver on the main at Eisele.
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At the west switch of Eisele (Clay), an eastbound BNSF Provo-Denver is hustling along at track speed, trying to get to the yard in Denver before the crew runs out of their hours of service. It has been a little while since seeing a Heritage 2 unit leading on the Moffat.
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