For the first time in years, a spartan cab (SD40-2) leads a non-local train on the Moffat! It is a beautiful morning as this westbound UP (interchanged from CSX) coal empty works hard to climb the roughly 2% grade on the approach to Tunnel 1.
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On a beautiful Thursday morning, a westbound coal empty climbs toward the east portal of Tunnel 1. This coal empty originated east of Mississippi (on CSX) and the CSX power has remained with the train the entire journey west. It was believed the power would likely be swapped out in Denver, but clearly that didn't happen.
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A trio of CSX units leads a westbound coal empty on the approach to Tunnel 1. It was so strange seeing an SD40-2 on the point of this empty. Particularly when compared to the ES44AHs behind it.
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A timeless image of a westbound train crossing over CO-72 at the mouth of Coal Creek Canyon. 40 years ago, this same shot was replicated many times with the Rio Grande Zephyr and other Rio Grande traffic. Today, the scene contains some eastern visitors. This coal train originated east of the Mississippi River in CSX land, and the CSX power has stayed with the train the entire way to Colorado.
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This westbound coal empty has power that spans decades as an SD40-2 leads and a pair of ES44AHs trail. It is incredible enough to see a solid set of CSX units on the Moffat, but it's even more incredible to catch an SD40-2 leading!
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On a crystal clear Colorado morning, a westbound coal empty leaves Eisele on the approach to the Blue Mountain Road crossing. Unlike so many other coal empties, this particular train had quite a surprise in store with an SD40-2 on the point! Not only is it a DC unit instead of an AC unit, but a spartan cab!
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This westbound coal empty, headed for the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch, has some very rare units (in Colorado, anyway) on the head end. It's been years since a non-local train on the Moffat was led by a spartan cab unit!
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In early morning light, a westbound coal empty works its way into and through Barbara's Gulch just east of Rocky. The train has some exceptionally unusual power as it is CSX and the lead unit is an SD40-2!
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A very rare occurrence on this particular morning as a CSX SD40-2 leads a westbound coal empty headed for the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch. Something else I noticed that I found even more interesting is that the trucks are originally from an SD40, not an SD40-2.
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This is the second coal train within a few weeks to arrive in Denver with a solid set of CSX power. The truly amazing part of this is that the SD40-2 that led was not removed or replaced when it arrived. Here, the train is headed west through Barbara's Gulch.
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Do not attempt to adjust your monitor! Here, in 2017, an SD40-2 is leading a westbound coal empty on the Moffat. Not only is it an SD40-2, but it is a Dark Future CSX SD40-2. Unheard of!
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This eastbound coal load has a colorful consist of mid-train swing helpers. A fair number of CSX units have been showing up as power sharing on UP trains in Denver lately. I enjoy the added blue in the scene!
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An ET44AH, a C40-8W, and an AC4400CW, all CSX, lead a westbound coal empty through the S-Curve at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. The train is climbing up toward Tunnel One. On the other side of Tunnel One, the train will take the siding at Plain to allow the Zephyr to pass by.
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They are a little hard to spot, but if you look closely you can see several deer trying to make a rapid retreat from the loud rumble of the trio of CSX units running on the point of this westbound coal empty. The train is headed for the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch, southeast of Grand Junction.
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Man, if this was not such a well-known scene, you'd almost think this could be somewhere in West Virginia! A trio of CSX GE's lead a coal empty west on the Moffat on the approach to the Blue Mountain road crossing. Frequently, when foreign power like this comes in to Denver from the east, it is swapped out for UP power. So it is pretty great to see a solid consist of CSX units on this overcast afternoon.
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