I'm always happy to grab a shot of a Kansas City Southern unit in Retro-Belle paint! This SD70MAC looks pretty sharp in the red/yellow/black paint job.
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In general, unit oil trains are only 3/5 to perhaps 2/3 the length of an average coal train. A point demonstrated in this shot as you would not be able to get both ends of a coal train in this frame. The head end of unit empty oil train is about to head into Tunnel 1 as the covered hopper buffer car on the rear rolls clear of the hot box detector at MP 22.6.
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After a couple weeks of frigid temperatures and quite a bit of snow, things thawed out a bit in mid-February! Most of the snow is gone and the temperature is close to 60°F as this westbound oil train, led by a pair of Kansas City Southern SD70ACes approach the Blue Mountain grade crossing.
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A pair of good looking Retro-Belle KCS SD70ACes lead up a westbound oil train as it makes its way through the S-Curves west of Eisele (formerly Clay) on the approach to the Blue Mountain Road crossing. As the sole power on the train, these guys sounded mighty fine.
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Up close and in your face! I decided to post multiple shots of the KCS "Belles" leading a westbound oil train on Valentine's Day Eve. We don't get these colorful creatures in Colorado all too often, so I wanted to advantage while I could.
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Good to see an empty oil train on the Moffat after multiple weeks without any. Even better to see one with such amazing power on the point! There was concern that UP might decide to throw a unit (most likely UP) on the point of the train in Denver. However, that obviously turned out not to be the case.
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This was a nice surprise for a Saturday afternoon! Not only did a westbound (empty) oil train run on the Moffat, but it was led by a pair of Kansas City Southern "Retro Belles"! Both SD70ACes to boot. Haven't seen an oil train in weeks (if not months). With oil prices so low right now, the demand for oil from fracking just hasn't been that high.
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Seeing as how Kansas City Southern units are not super common in Colorado, I figured a roster shot of this SD70MAC was in order. It is bringing up the tail end of an eastbound oil train.
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A pair of gray Kansas City Southern bring up the tail end of an eastbound loaded oil train. The train loaded at Wash, UT just east of Price. The Moffat has been seeing 1-2 oil trains running each way per week.
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Always good to catch an unfamiliar face when out chasing! A Kansas City Southern SD70ACe (in the Retro-Belle paint scheme) is on lease to BNSF. Together with an AC4400CW, they are pulling a loaded coal train south (timetable east) on Main 3.
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A new signal that is not yet active as been installed at the east end of BNSF's Denver Yard. This signal, once put in service, will dictate train movement into the yard from the main track (or just continuing down the main track). I wasn't thrilled with the lighting in this shot, but decided it was worth it with the KCS Retro-Belle in the shot.
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It isn't all that often that a Kansas City Southern unit shows up on the Moffat. It is even less often that they are the sole power on a train! However, that was the case on this Monday morning as a gray KCSM (Kansas City Southern de Mexico) AC4400CW and a Retro-Belle SD70MAC lead an empty oil train out the west end of Leyden on a clear signal.
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An empty oil train, headed for Wash, UT in order to load, charges west at Leyden. The power on the train was quite a delightful surprise! A pair of Kansas City Southern units - the sole power on the train - take it west. Even though the train is empty, the two units are working hard to keep the train moving.
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I always enjoy running across a Kansas City Southern unit. I think it may be due to the fact that KCS has managed to endure through all of the mega-mergers of the last 20 years. While railroads like SP, CNW, and Conrail have fallen, KCS has persisted.
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A quick roster shot of a gray Kansas City Southern SD70MAC. It is currently on lease to BNSF and led BNSF's Provo, UT to Denver, CO manifest over the former Rio Grande. From this point, it will have a straight shot the rest of the way in to the yard.
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