The Zephyr, running right on time, just knocked down a clear (green) signal at the west end of Eisele (Clay) on its morning journey west.
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Can you spot the Zephyr in this shot? While the camera is setup around MP 23.5, the Zephyr is off in the distance at Rocky and Little Ten Curve, about 3 1/2 (rail) miles east. The train will continue west and the next shot, just west of Eisele, can be seen here.
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The sun is getting much lower in the western sky earlier in the day as we get closer to the end of the summer. Passengers on the eastbound Zephyr enjoy last afternoon views as the train accelerates into Barbara's Gulch.
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In the rays of the setting sun, you can see a little exhaust kicking up on the Zephyr as the train accelerates a bit, approaching the east end of Rocky where speed limits increase. The westbound oil empty on the siding is starting to accelerate as well, the head end already past west Rocky and out on the main.
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With a westbound oil train in the clear in the siding at Rocky, the Zephyr is looking at a clear (green) signal at the west end of Rocky. When Daylight Savings time ends in November, the sun will have set here by the time the eastbound Zephyr arrives, even when it is running right on time.
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The Zephyr is creeping along at 10 MPH due to a slow order around Big Ten Curve. The slow order is in place due to the risk of sun kinks in the rails as a result of hot summer temperatures. Granted, at this point, it is only about 80°F (27°C) out. You can just barely see the east end of Rocky and the start of Barbara's Gulch in the top left portion of the image.
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As the Zephyr rounds Big Ten Curve, you can clearly see the roughly 2% grade of the tracks as they descend down from the mountains. Off in the distance, the buildings consisting of the skyline of downtown Denver stand tall. In an hour, give or take, the Zephyr will be amongst those iron giants for its station stop at Denver Union Station.
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Most of Eisele (Clay) is cast in the shadows of the mountains at 5:45pm this time of year. However, there are a few sections toward the east end that are still lit, and the head end of the Zephyr enters one such section here. Not the westbound UP oil train in the distance at Little Ten Curve.
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A pair of P42DCs in Phase 5 paint lead the evening Zephyr across the grade crossing in Cliff. The train is 45 minutes late as it rolls through the small town of Cliff. Rumor has it the State of Colorado hopes to expand rail service, potentially reinstituting some depots in small mountain towns such as Pinecliff.
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With roughly three weeks left in summer, this shot already has a pretty decent fall feel to it, particularly with the sun flowers lining the right of way. The Zephyr just knocked down a clear (green) signal at the east end of Leyden. AMTK 171 and AMTK 170 have been the power on this Zephyr trainset for the past few weeks now.
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It is a little hazy in the Denver-Metro area this morning as the Zephyr rushes away from the Denver skyline, toward a clear (green) signal at the east switch of Leyden.
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Even though it was the trailing unit (of three) on the morning Zephyr, I had to make sure I got a roster shot of AMTK 203. As you can see, it is painted in a special Operation Lifesaver scheme, honoring the 50th anniversary of Operation Lifesaver. The large "RR" (railroad) sign painted toward the front of the unit is not popular with all railfans...but I'm just happy it is something different!
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Coming around the fill on the 2% grade approaching Tunnel 1, the westbound Zephyr is running precisely on time. It departed Fort Morgan 30 minutes late, and made up that time (and a bit more) on the way in to Denver, arriving six minute early.
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I have only caught AMTK 203 (in the Operation Lifesaver Scheme) one time prior to this morning. It led the Zephyr in January 2023, and I was able to get a few shots. Today, however, it is the third unit on the point of the Zephyr as the train wraps around the curve, headed for Blue Mountain Drive under over skies.
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Three P42DCs lead a baggage car and the standard seven Superliners on the westbound Zephyr at the west end of Eisele (Clay). It is a cooler day today with overcast skies forecasted all day, and possible rain shower later in the afternoon.
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