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.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
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.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
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.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
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.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
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.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
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
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
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.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
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.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A UP C44AC-CTE, now rebuilt as a C44ACM, is leading the westbound Zephyr on an afternoon that brought some much needed moisture and cooler temperatures to the area. There has been no significant rain in weeks, and temperatures have been well into the 90°Fs (32°Cs). Today, the temperature is very pleasant 60°F (15°C).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr arrived in Denver a little over two hours late, and ended up getting delayed another hour in town when it stopped to pick up a UP unit as a new leader, likely due to a mechanical issue with one of the P42DCs.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of P42DCs (both in Phase 5) are power on a typical Zephyr consist this morning as the train passes by Oberon Lake #1 in Arvada. The Zephyr is roughly halfway between the control point at Arvada (CP DS007) and the east switch of Leyden (CP DS012).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Crossing 66th Avenue, the westbound Zephyr is running right on time as it navigates its way through the residential Denver suburb of Arvada. Arvada has a few areas of commercial zoning, but the vast majority of the city of 120,000 citizens is filled with houses.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr approaches the grade crossing at 66th Avenue in Arvada. With the morning Zephyr generally headed away from the sun, this short stretch of track by 66th Avenue is one of the best places for a reasonably lit (not backlit) shot as the tracks run (more or less) geographically north here.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The evening Zephyr departs the east end of Rocky and enters into the narrow west end of Barbara's Gulch.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Zephyr rolls east on the main at Rocky. In this shot, you can clearly see the difference between welded rail (on the main) and jointed rail (on the siding). Some track equipment is currently tied down on the house track. Note that derails are properly set on both ends of the house track.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
