The westbound Zephyr emerges from around the bend, from the west end of Eisele (Clay). Behind the Zephyr is wide open plains for hundreds of miles. The Zephyr is approaching the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive.
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The westbound Zephyr is approaching a red signal at the west end of Eisele (Clay) on the siding. The oil train on the main is too long to fit between switches, and is waiting for the a clear signal at the east end to proceed east. Once the train clears the west switch, DS-380 will get the Zephyr a light to continue west.
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The siding at Eisele (Clay) has weight restrictions on it, which prohibits loaded unit trains - such as oil trains - from operating on the siding. So, the oil train holds the main and the westbound Zephyr runs through the siding on its way west.
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Three trains in one frame, all three of them facing geographically south. However, two of them (the Zephyr and the oil train to the right) are headed west. The oil train to the left is headed east, waiting for the Zephyr to show up. Busy morning on the Moffat!
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After arriving in Denver, it was discovered that the Zephyr had an air leak. The decision was made to swap the P42DCs around. AMTK 170 had been the trailing unit upon arriving. After a couple hours of swapping units around, AMTK 170 became the leader and the train departed west. Here, the train passes by empty tank cars and sunflowers on the trip west.
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At the west switch of Plain, the ledge narrows and the Zephyr heads toward the east portal of Tunnel 2 as it starts its journey into the heart of the Tunnel District. The UP oil train on the siding will have to wait a bit longer as an eastbound is at Crescent, waiting on the Zephyr. This oil train will have to wait on that eastbound before it is its turn to head west.
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A UP oil train sits on the siding at Plain as a four hour late Zephyr overtakes the train on the main. Severe weather in the mid-west was responsible for delays to the Zephyr. The oil train just barely fit in the siding. Not how close to the signal the lead unit is.
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At the east end of Plain, the westbound Zephyr is overtaking an empty UP oil train, sitting in the siding. The oil train fit in the siding by less than one car. If there had been one more tank car on the train, it would not have fit! You can see how close the end DPU is to the signal at the east end.
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Afternoon clouds are starting to roll across the mountains and out onto the Plains. Meanwhile, the Zephyr, cast in shadows, is four hours late as it heads west on the main at Rocky.
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Tunnels 2 through 7 sit on the edge of the Rockies with a spectacular view of the plains (behind the camera). The tracks move (roughly) geographically north here, working their way from Coal Creek Canyon to South Boulder Canyon. At Tunnel 8, the tracks take a hard left and dive into the Rockies. Passengers on the Zephyr this morning are enjoying the views.
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A pair of P42DCs lead the westbound Zephyr through CP DS025 at the west end of Plain. Here, the train will really enter in to the lower end of the Tunnel District, and will pass through 16 tunnels over the course of the next five miles or so.
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For the first time in a couple of months, a Phase 7 P42DC makes an appearance on the Amtrak. The train is right on time as it approaches rainbow cut, roughly halfway through the siding of Plain. AMTK 167, sporting the Phase 7 scheme, is the first Phase 7 unit we've seen on the Zephyr in a couple of month.
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The westbound Zephyr rolls by the house track that holds a single gondola. Stacks of panel track lie on the ground by the house track as well. The Zephyr will be the final train through here for the next six hours or so, as UP has a work window starting behind Amtrak
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A UP C44ACM emerges from fog with the westbound Zephyr behind it. One of the two P42DCs developed mechanical issues, necessitating the need for UP 5941 to be added to the train at North Yard. The temperature, currently 54°F (12°C) according the hotbox detector, is a welcome break from weeks of heat that has frequently gotten close to 100°F (38°C) in the afternoons.
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The "48" has almost entirely worn off the side of the P42DC, the last unit on the Zephyr this morning. The paint scheme overall is looking a bit shoddy, and it seems like AMTK 48 would be a good candidate for a repaint in to the new Phase 7 scheme sooner rather than later.
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