It looks like it could be December, but in fact we are over halfway through April as a substantial spring storm brings a lot of snow to the area. The westbound Zephyr heads into Tunnel 1, trying to make up a bit of time. It is almost 90 minutes late this morning, due to extreme weather between Denver and Chicago.
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AMTK 187, sporting Phase 7 paint, rolls west on the main track across 66th Avenue in Arvada. The train is almost 90 minutes late this morning, delayed due to weather in the mid-west. As you can see, snow is falling hard here in Arvada as well.
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The eastbound Zephyr is running about two hours late as it accelerates toward the west switch of Leyden. The overcast skies and the fading light has resulted in a bit of a low-light shot, with a hit of blur in the Zephyr. The third unit is AMTK 371, a brand new ALC-42 Charger, being transported from the Siemens plant in California to Chicago and, quite possibly, on to Beech Grove, In after that.
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The leaves on trees are working on making their spring comeback as the eastbound Zephyr descends from Big Ten Curve. AMTK 203, painted in commemoration of Operation Lifesaver's 50th Anniversary, is leading the train this afternoon. A number of spring storms have been rolling through the area, creating some fantastically dramatic clouds to the east.
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After an afternoon of overcast skies, the sun managed to squeak through some clouds and make an appearance at the perfect time! Great light was cast on the eastbound Zephyr as it descends Big Ten Curve with Operation Lifesaver P42DC, AMTK 203 leading the way.
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AMTK 203 leads the Zephyr around Big Ten Curve, passing by the hoppers that have now sat, motionless, on the inside of the curve for over five decades. The Denver skyline, where Union Station is located, is visible to the left. Union Station is indeed the next stop of the Zephyr this evening.
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In January 2022, Amtrak worked with Operation Lifesaver to unveil a very unique paint scheme on AMTK 203. The paint scheme commemorates the 50th anniversary of Operation Lifesaver, which has worked and continues to work to make the public more aware of trains and how to avoid disaster with them. As the slogan goes: "See TRACKS? Think TRAIN!"
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The distinctive yellow nose of AMTK 203 leads the eastbound Zephyr at the east end of Eisele (Clay).
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The eastbound Zephyr was about an hour late when it departed Fraser. However, it is working to make up that time, and will in fact arrive in Denver only 12 minutes late! Here, the train is approaching the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive.
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The evening Zephyr rolls eastbound over CO-72 at the base of Coal Creek Canyon, AMTK 203 in the lead. The sun has come out in the foreground, creating some dramatic storm lighting in the distance.
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Helping on this westbound coal load is a Norfolk Southern AC44C6M. I actually shot this exact unit about 24 hours earlier, when it was sitting near the BNSF Engine House in Denver, awaiting its next assignment. At the time, I would not have guessed its next assignment would take it west on the Moffat.
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A BNSF coal load climbs Big Ten Curve, headed west on the Moffat. The train loaded in the Powder River in Wyoming, and is headed for the Valmy Power Plant in Nevada. This coal train's days are actually likely limited. Like so many other power plants, the Valmy station is transitioning to natural gas. The coal-burning stations are slated for retirement by the end of 2025.
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Three units lead this westbound BNSF coal load on the main at Rocky. A few hours ago, the ground was entirely covered in snow. But rapidly rising temperatures, now around 38°F, is resulting in the rapid melting of the snow.
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I really like the contrasting foliage all visible right here in a single scene. As a loaded BNSF coal train heads west through Barbara's Gulch, the foliage in the gulch is covered in snow. Meanwhile, warming temperatures has melted most of the snow outside of the gulch.
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Quite a bit of snow fell in the Denver-Metro area and in the high country of the Rockies overnight. The result is a fantastic, powdered scene here between the west end of Crescent and Tunnel 19.
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