A roster shot of UP 1989 in some nice afternoon light as it leads the MPUNY-25 north through South Denver. The elevated platform behind 1989 carries the Regional Transportation District's (RTD's) Light Rail line south to Littleton.
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Running rather late, the northbound MPUNY-25 is moving north on Main 2 past Evans Avenue. The train left Pueblo (about 110 miles south) the night before and barely made it past Colorado Springs before the crew died. The train was tied down on Monument siding until today when a new crew took the train north into Denver.
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What do these three units have in common? Well, aside from the obvious that is! Of course they are all geeps and they are all on the active UP roster. But can you figure out something a little less obvious that they have in common? You can post your guess by clicking here and leaving a comment. I'll post the answer in a few days if nobody gets it correct!
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Still in pretty decent shape, UP 1352 (ex-DRGW 3097) sits with class lights still installed near the yard office at 36th street. DRGW 3097 - the last Grande geep in the 30xx range - finished its Rio Grande life as the Colorado Springs switcher back in 2005.
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The Ski Train, led by UP 1989 makes its way out of the shortest tunnel in the Tunnel District (Tunnel 29) and crosses the bridge at MP 36.5. The tracks cross South Boulder Creek at this location for most of the remainder of the trip west to the Moffat Tunnel.
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Unfortunately, the clouds didn't quite cooperate with me here. There was sun further up the mountain and further down too! Regardless, UP 1989 leads on the point of the Ski Train as the train enters the siding at Plain for a meet with an eastbound coal load.
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The Ski Train twists it way into the siding at Plain to meet with an eastbound coal load that is currently up near Tunnel 10. Due to mechanical problems with SKTX 289, UP 1989 has been borrowed from UP to help for the day.
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The Ski Train, led by the Rio Grande Heritage Unit UP 1989, emerges from a thick fog that has engulfed the Denver-Metro area. By the time the train reaches Clay it will have climbed completely out of the fog.
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Problem with one of the three F40's (SKTX 289) typically used on the Ski Train resulted in a rare treat! UP loaned the Rio Grande Heritage Unit to the Ski Train for the weekend to assist with the pull. Here, under crystal clear blue skies, the train is about to duck into Tunnel 1.
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Climbing up from Coal Creek Canyon, UP 1989 leads the Ski Train on the approach to Tunnel 1. Wind here was sustained at about 15 MPH with gusts as high as 50 MPH!
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High winds (for the third straight day) have created some snow drifts along the tracks. The tracks just west of the grade crossing at Blue Mountain are at the base of a hill. Snow blows right off the hill and onto the tracks. No problem though. UP 1989 relocates one of the drifts on the point of the Ski Train.
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A couple of the Rio Grande GP40-2s that received a yellow patch on either side of the cab have actually been completed repainted recently. Such is the case with UP 1364 (ex-DRGW 3109), sitting near the yard office at UP's 36th Street Yard.
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It seems to be rare enough to catch UP 1989 out in daylight, but it was a special treat to find it leading the Ski Train! Here, the train is passing through Leyden near Alkire Estates. Ralston Valley High School, Arvada's newest High School, is visible on the right side of image just over half way up.
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On a windy, overcast Saturday morning, UP 1989 leads the Ski Train west through Leyden on the way to Winter Park. UP 1989 is temporarily filling in for SKTX 289, the third F40PH.
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One of the three F40PH's used on the Ski Train - SKTX 289 - had some bearing problems and was sent to Burnham for repairs. The stars aligned just right and the Rio Grande Heritage Unit was available. Here, UP 1989 leads the train west through Leyden.
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