Almost a mile west of Leyden, along CO-72, six units are leading up the MNYRO on its journey west. The Rio Grande Heritage Unit just got a wash two days earlier, so it definitely stands out!
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A look at the tail end (and "properly-lit") side of UP 1989. It is sitting on the siding at Brighton, waiting for is Operation Lifesaver train to continue its days work.
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The DRGW Heritage Unit is working an Operation Lifesaver train on the Greeley Sub on this particular day. The day before, the unit went to Burnham and got a top-to-bottom cleaning for the event!
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After completing their work at Chem Spur, the West Local has no cars to take west to Rocky. However, the light power will head up there to switch some hoppers around on the Rocky Spur.
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Can't go wrong with that light package! True, the MARS light is missing, but the class lights are still in place. The brakeman heads toward the derail to realign it after the light power is back on the main.
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After completing their switching, the West Local is coming back down off the Chem Spur to join up with the mainline. The rainy day was helpful in brining out the surrounding colors!
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After completing the spotting of cars at Mesa Oil, the West Local - now consisting of light power - heads back toward the main. You can really see the grade on the spur, which the power is starting to descend down.
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The West Local backs up on Chem Spur, spotting some cars at Mesa Oil. I took this shot to show the distance between the spur and the facility in the distance.
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The West Local (formerly the Rocky Local) switches tank cars on Chem Spur at Mesa Oil. I've wanted to try to catch the local here for nearly ten years, so I was happy to finally get my day. Great power to boot.
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You gotta love that in 2009, you can still get a Rio Grande lettered engine crossing over a Rio Grande lettered bridge! UP 1989 is a mid-train swing helper on an eastbound coal load crossing over Indiana Street.
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This is the type of environment that the Rio Grande Heritage unit should be in! Working as a swing helper on an eastbound coal load coming past Blue Mountain in the snow.
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What is this? UP 1989 running on a train in daylight and not on the Joint Line? Yep! Somehow, UP 1989 escaped captive service and went west to Grand Junction on the MNYRO. It was then used as a mid-train swing helper on this coal load coming east. The train here is just existing Tunnel One.
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Now here is a familiar and friendly face! A few years ago, this was DRGW 3121. It hasn't changed too much...it even still has its class lights in place. UP has kept the unit in Colorado, most recently working in Pueblo. Here, it is being moved to La Salle for switching.
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It has been nearly three years since UP 1989 was unveiled in Denver! And in all that time, it has probably spent more than 90% of its time running between Denver and Pueblo overnight on the Joint Line. Happened to catch it hanging around the yard during the day, awaiting its night run to Pueblo ten hours later.
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UP's Board of Directors Special has reached its destination, just over 100 miles west of Denver Union Station. The train had a great run, making the entire trip in about three hours! The fleet of SUVs in the picture will transport the board members to their next destination (where ever that may be), away from the tracks.
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