Just west of Tunnel 30, the Rocky Mountaineer's "Rockies to the Red Rocks" follows along South Boulder Creek in the narrow canyon just east of Rollins. The GP40-3s are kicking up some exhaust as the train snakes its way west.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is between Cliff and Rollins in the area known as Pactolus, passing by the signal at MP 39.9. The train had an Approach Diverging (yellow over yellow) signal at the intermediate as the train will be taking the siding at Rollins. An eastbound UP coal load is already sitting on the main, waiting for the train to arrive.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
As the westbound Rocky Mountaineer approaches Blue Mountain Drive, the engineer throttles up and both GP40-3s kick up a little extra exhaust. It is a very rainy morning out today. In fact, there was some light hail falling as the train rolls west.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Growing up in the 1980s, going out train chasing with my dad, I was raised on Rio Grande. Consequently, spartan cab EMDs are by far my favorite locomotives. That makes seeing a pair of GP40-3s on the point of the Rocky Mountaineer really great every time I see them. Here, they are leading the Rocky Mountaineer as it approaches the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
On a cloud, slightly rainy, May morning, the Rocky Mountaineer starts another journey west toward Glenwood Springs (its stop of tonight) and Moab tomorrow.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of UP (Phase 2) SD70Ms leads the westbound Rocky Mountaineer out of the west portal of Tunnel 1. The skies are partly cloudy and the temperature is right around 60°F. A great morning for a shot of the Mountaineer.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It is a beautiful morning to start off May as the westbound Rocky Mountaineer crosses Blue Mountain Drive and passes by the hotbox detector at MP 22.6.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
These two leased UP SD70Ms on the Rocky Mountaineer are the exact same two SD70Ms that the train borrowed from UP at the end of the 2023 season. I would speculate that the SD70Ms have been sitting in (long term) storage at UP's 36th Street Yard in Denver. Today, they are leading the westbound Mountaineer at Eisele (Clay).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Rocky Mountaineer has 10 cars today for the trip from Denver to Glenwood Springs. The train will stay overnight tonight and, per the usual procedure for the train, continue west to Moab on the Cane Creek Subdivision tomorrow. For now, the train is westbound (geographically northbound) on the main at Eisele (Clay).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
On the first day of May, the landscape is starting to green up here at East Eisele (Clay) as the westbound "Rockies to the Red Rocks" Rocky Mountaineer knocks down a clear (green) signal at the east switch and heads down the main. A pair of UP SD70Ms is power for the passenger train today.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Well, unfortunately, for the third run of the 2024 season, the Rocky Mountaineer has a pair of leased SD70Ms from Union Pacific. Not exactly sure what happened with the GP40-3s. Also not sure why the leased power from Horizon Rail was not used. Regardless, overall the two SD70Ms in use do look pretty good overall on the climb up to Big Ten.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The crew of RMRX 8021 is facing the east portal of Tunnel 2 and the official start of the Tunnel District, just west of the west switch of Plain. The weather is very pleasant for this first revenue run of the train, which is headed for Glenwood Springs, CO for the night before continuing on to Moab, UT tomorrow.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The ground at the west end of Plain narrows pretty rapidly as the siding comes to an end and the single track main continues west in to the Tunnel District. The Rocky Mountaineer is just about to start the run west through the district, leaving Plain behind and approaching Tunnel 2.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After a long, cold winter, its Rocky Mountaineer season once again! The first revenue run of the "Rockies to the Red Rocks" charges west on the main at Plain, approaching Rainbow Cut.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Near the east end of Rocky, the Rocky Mountaineer is approaching a clear (green) signal. The train will continue to town, but may get briefly held up at C&S Jct while waiting for one of the two Bypass tracks to open up. A westbound in one of the track is expected to roll about five minutes after this picture was taken, so any delay to the Mountaineer should be minimal.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
