It is always amazing just how many people the Big Boy draws trackside. People from all over the state (and even country) have come to Greeley to check out the excursion. People were set up with camp chairs, some had ladders, while others were just on foot, happy to be there.
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The Big Boy has come to a stop on the main right by the Colorado Model Railroad Museum, which contains a massive HO layout inside. Greeley police have 10th Street completely closed at the grade crossing to allow admirers of the Big Boy to stand and check out the massive machine.
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During its 30 minute stop here in Greeley, the steam crew will do several things. They will check UP 4014's exterior, as well as add oil where necessary. They also swap out the Wyoming state flag with a Colorado state flag. This one of the classy things the steam team does on their excursions, changing out the state flags as they go.
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UP 4014 crosses 10th Street in Greeley and is slows to a stop, a crowds of several hundred (if not a thousand or more) watch the ALCO 4-8-8-4 slow to a stop.
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Between the small plains towns of Ault and Nunn, UP 4014 is moving along at track speed (around between 50 and 60 MPH) as the train charges south along the two lane US-85 and several open fields.
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UP 4014 and UP 1616 lead UP's passenger equipment on a special excursion at the south end of Nunn. It is overcast and a bit cooler that it has been, helping the steam coming off the Big Boy to show up a bit better.
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UP 4014 is putting on a decent show as it approaches a clear (green) signal at the north switch of Carr. The trees have grown quite high here, so a bit of elevation is needed to avoid blocking the train.
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North of Carr, UP 4014 leads a UP passenger special southbound on a very overcast July morning. UP auctioned off a few cab rides on UP 4014 for this trip...to the tune of $25,000 per ticket!
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UP is deadheading passenger equipment from Council Bluffs, IA west. The train has a power car and eleven passenger cars. It is currently stopped in the siding at Brighton, waiting for maintenance to clear up at Sand Creek. Despite being a deadhead move, a pair of pristine SD70Ms lead the way.
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A trio of elephant-style GE units lead a southbound manifest by the Vestas plant in Brighton. The train is the MCYDV-15, a manifest that just runs between Cheyenne, WY and Denver, CO.
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At the Vestas plant in Brighton, a trainload of hubs (to which the blades attach) and nacelles (which generate the electricity) are ready to be picked up by Union Pacific. However, that will not be happening on this particular day.
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UP's MNYGR, manifest from North Yard, CO to Green River, WY is hustling along at track speed as it approaches an intermediate in advance of Brighton, where it will take the siding to meet a southbound. If you look in the distance on the left side of the shot, you can just see the Denver skyline!
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On a beautiful Sunday morning, a trio of GEs leads UP's MNYGR north on the Greeley Sub. The train is crossing over Sand Creek while approach the diamond with BNSF's Brush Sub at a control point that, appropriately, is also named Sand Creek.
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After meeting a very short southbound, UP's MNYGR is throttling up and headed for the single track main of the Greeley Sub. The train is passing by the Suncor oil refinery in Commerce City.
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I have wanted to try to get a shot at this location for quite a long time, and was finally able to make it happen. UP 9795 and train are coming off the Greeley Sub, wrapping around the north leg of a wye that leads to the Belt Industrial Lead. You can see the inbound main for the 36th Street Yard in the distance.
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