The Rocky Mountaineer has left the Dotsero Cutoff behind as it is now on the main at the east end of the siding of Dotsero. In the distance, you can see the line that heads to Tennessee Pass. Roughly six miles of the west end of Tennessee Pass is still in service, with a local coming out of Grand Junction once or twice per week to service industries at Gypsum.
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Here at the west end of the Dotsero Cutoff, the cutoff joins the west end of Tennessee Pass. It is also here that the Eagle River joins with the Colorado River. The Rocky Mountaineer is technically still on the Dotsero Cutoff as it crosses over the Eagle River, and you can see it converging with the Colorado River.
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Just east of Range, the Rocky Mountaineer is crossing the Colorado River amidst some great fall colors as it continues westbound.
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If you've never taken a passenger train on the former Rio Grande, this is why you should if you get the chance! Whether it is the Rocky Mountaineer, such as here, or the California Zephyr, the scenery is breathtaking. The Mountaineer is crossing the Colorado River in Red Canyon under partly cloudy skies on a fantastic October afternoon.
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The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is in Red Canyon between Dell and Range, crossing over the Colorado River in fantastic afternoon lighting.
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As the Rocky Mountaineer heads west on the main track at Dell, we notice an odd sight as a single Amtrak P42DC (AMTK 205) sits on the siding. It was setout here after striking a vehicle to the west the day before. As a result, this means the siding of Range is the only siding on the 36-mile Dotsero cutoff!
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Fall colors are still near their peak here at the siding of Dell as the Rocky Mountaineer heads west on the main track. Dell is one of two sidings on the 36-mile Dotsero Cutoff between Bond and Dotsero.
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The Rocky Mountaineer has backup unit RMRX 8600 leading the train west this afternoon on the main track at Dell.
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AMTK 205 was involved in a collision with a vehicle the day prior to this photo. As a result, for safety reasons, the unit was set out here in the siding at Dell. There is also another P42DC currently in the siding at Newcastle west of Glenwood from a similar incident.
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Now here is something I definitely did not expect to find in the siding at Dell! A single Amtrak P42DC. Unfortunately, the eastbound Zephyr the day before struck a vehicle not far west of here on the Dotsero Cutoff. For safety reasons, the unit was set out here in the siding at Dell.
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The afternoon Zephyr is running about an hour late as it crosses over Yarmony Creek at the east end of the Glenwood Springs Subdivision, just west of the west switch of Bond.
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Just around the corner from Tunnel 49, this once-weekly manifest has completed most of the steepest parts of the climb between Bond and Phippsburg.
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This 70-car manifest on the Craig Branch is leaving Volcano behind and is approaching the east portal of Tunnel 49.
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At the west switch of Volcano, this westbound UP manifest is making its way from Bond to Phippsburg. Volcano was named after a now-extinct volcano here in the area. It is the longest siding between Bond and Phippsburg at 7,470 feet. 20 years ago when multiple coal trains ran each day through here, Volcano was the only siding between Bond and Phippsburg long enough to accommodate meets.
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Rock Creek Canyon is a tremendously scenic part of the (former) Rio Grande. You can see the tracks to the right and the left. The tracks head away from the camera roughly one mile and then come back out, slowly gaining altitude. You can see the westbound manifest on the left, exiting the canyon. Note the substantial difference in elevation between the tracks to the right and the tracks to the left. A little fall foliage at the base of the canyon is just an added bonus.
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