DS-378 routed the Provo-Denver into the siding at Rocky to meet the westbound Zephyr. As it turns out, 31st Street in Denver wasn't quite ready to take the train yet either, so it would end up having to hold here at Rocky for about an hour.
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BNSF's Provo-Denver is really well-blocked today. Tank cars, followed by covered hoppers, follows by tank cars...and a box car on the end. Instead of the power being configured in the standard 3x2, this morning is setup in a 4x1 configuration.
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I love that former MRL SD70ACes show up on the Moffat a couple of times a year since BNSF took over MRL at the start of the year. This is why I say "former" MRL, even though the unit is still sporting Montana Rail Link blue.
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It is a beautiful morning in late October as BNSF's daily Denver-Provo climbs the grade from the base of Coal Creek Canyon up to the east portal of Tunnel 1. Unlike most of BNSF's manifests on the Moffat, todays train has five units on the head end and no DPUs.
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BNSF usually has its Denver-Provo configured 3x2. However, the train is shorter than normal this morning, and BNSF has placed all five units on the head end. The fifth unit sports MRL blue as the Montana Rail Unit makes a Moffat appearance.
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Bright morning light shines through the trees, many of which are still holding onto their leaves here in late October. A relatively short BNSF Provo-Denver rolls east on the main train, headed toward town.
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Three units, setup elephant-style, are leading BNSF's Provo-Denver this morning as it rolls east on the main at Leyden. As the days slowly get shorter and the sun moves further south, the crew is contending with heading straight into the morning sunlight.
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BNSF's eastbound Provo-Denver manifest is headed directly into the sun just west of the west switch of Leyden. The right-of-way has piles of new ties that are waiting to be installed.
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This southbound coal load is winding its way south on Main 1 through The Sag. With a telephoto lens, you can really see the winding of the track here, about two miles north of Palmer Lake.
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A southbound coal load winds south through the S-Curve on Main 1 at "The Sag", a few miles north of Palmer Lake. You can clearly see the bridge abutment from over a century ago when Santa Fe's mainline crossed over Rio Grande mainline.
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BNSF typically keeps a "protection" unit on the stub track off of Main 1 just north of Palmer Lake. Southbound coal load typically can just make the climb up the grade from Denver to Palmer Lake with four units. However, if one fails, a rescue unit is needed. BNSF 6035 currently has that job, sitting and waiting on the stub track if or when it is needed. A southbound coal load, with all four of its unit online, pass by on Main 1.
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A pair of SD70ACes bring up the tail end of a train carrying "black diamonds" (coal) on their way from Wyoming to Texas. A thin cloud layer has been hiding direct sunlight most of the morning.
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The classic view of a southbound as it crosses over West Fox Farm Road, East Plum Creek, and Spruce Mountain Road. The old "Santa Fe" lettering and herald are still barely visible, time definitely taking its toll.
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BNSF 6064 just passed another green intermediate as it gets close to the south end of the "Castle Rock Corridor", where Main 1 parallels I-25 for a little over eight miles south of Castle Rock.
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The Frontage Road on the west side of I-25 is currently closed due to construction of the Crystal Valley Parkway bridge, just visible in the distance. A southbound BNSF coal load rolls by the south end of the closure, which has been in place for over a year at this point.
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