The Rocky Mountaineer departed Denver this morning for Moab, UT. The two GP40-3s are working at the moment, so the SD40M-2 is being left behind in Denver with the SD18 that is used for switching.
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Lighting is not the best, but the westbound Rocky Mountaineer has taken the siding at Cliff to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train.
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A look at the Rocky Mountaineer in the siding at Rollins from the north side of the rails, just before the train passes underneath the "Peak-to-Peak" highway, CO-119.
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RMRX 8020 and RMRX 8021 both spit out a blast of exhaust as the engineer increases the throttle by a notch. The train has cleared the east switch of Rollins, and is now running west through the 8,320-foot long siding. The sun glints off South Boulder Creek to the right.
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Exiting from the extremely narrow canyon just east of Rollins, the westbound Rocky Mountaineer enters into the siding at Rollins. UP had some track and time on the main track at Rollins, so the mornings trains were routed in and out of the siding.
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The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is approaching Tunnel 30, the final tunnel the train will pass through prior to reaching the Moffat Tunnel. There are not a lot of shots from the Tunnel 30 area, as it is remote and isolated from the other tunnels between Denver and the Moffat Tunnel.
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At Pactolus, in between Cliff and Rollins, the westbound Rocky Mountaineer passes by a small (private) lake and the Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Club.
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The Rocky Mountaineer's Rockies to the Red Rocks is only making one trip west per week between Denver and Moab throughout the month of August. In the high heat of the summer, demand for the Mountaineer is decreased, so the train does not run Sunday through Tuesday. It only runs Wednesday through Friday. This morning, the Mountaineer has its GP40-3s and is making track speed.
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From above the building complex of the Moffat Tunnel at East Portal, we see the train as it approaches, passing the switch at the west end of East Portal. The lead unit is passing under a camera bridge. The dispatcher (and others) in Omaha, NE can view many different directions around the tracks here.
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With a green signal and the Moffat Tunnel curtain now open, the train is throttling up quickly toward track speed.
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The Rocky Mountaineer has slowed to a stop on the main at East Portal. Ahead, the Moffat Tunnel is still venting from the Zephyr passing through about 30 minutes ago. Until the tunnel finishes venting, the train will have to wait.
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The Rocky Mountaineer is passing the location where, once upon the time, the tracks curve and started up the major grade of Rollins Pass. Today, the east leg of the wye at East Portal lies on a portion of that original grade.
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The Rocky Mountaineer throttles up on the main at Rolland, and RMRX 8021 kicks up some exhaust in response, as the train faces a flashing yellow (advanced approach) signal at West Tolland.
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After the California Zephyr ran around the Rocky Mountaineer at Rollins, the Mountaineer is now headed west on the main at Tolland. The Zephyr is still in the Moffat Tunnel, so the Mountaineer will have to stop for a few minutes at East Portal.
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The westbound Rocky Mountaineer crosses CO-72 at the east end of Cliff. Like so many siding, Cliff has a house track off the siding. The track is currently empty, but has about 1,000 feet of storage space, if it is needed.
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