With the advent of drones, I really enjoy getting shots at Eisele (Clay). If you are on the ground, you have to hike in to Clay. Consequently, I did not have too many shots from Clay prior to about 2019. It's great to be able to easily access in 2024 for this westbound oil empty.
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UP 5284 leads a westbound oil train around the outside of Big Ten Curve. You can just see part of the wind break hoppers on the inside of the curve. In the summer, it is pretty common to have totally clear skies in the morning with clouds and thunderstorms in the afternoons. However, on the first day of May, it is still very spring-like and some partly cloud skies are around this morning.
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A pair of ES44ACs, with an SD70ACe sandwiched between, lead a westbound empty oil train up the north edge of Big Ten Curve as some clouds rolls in from the Rockies, headed for the plains.
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A very short special climbs toward the east portal of Tunnel 1. The last car on the special...which is what makes it a special..is an FRA track geometry car. It has a lot of advanced equipment that checks the integrity of the track as it rolls.
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The FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) inspects the tracks off the Class 1 railroads (and maybe smaller railroads as well...I'm not sure). Looks like today it is the Moffat's turn to get the inspection. UP 6060 has a gondola and FRA inspection car in tow.
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UP 6060 has a gondola and an FRA inspection car in tow just west of the west switch of Rocky, starting up toward Big Ten.
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I was hoping for a shot of this UP officer's special as it rolled through Byers Canyon. Alas, it was too late in the day as the canyon was cast in shadow and the sun would've been on the wrong side of the tracks anyway. So, I settled for this shot just east of the small town of Parshall, between the sidings of Sulphur and Flat.
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A pair of SD70Ms lead 11 cars on a westbound UP officer's special, which was rumored to be carrying an executive vice president for the company. Alas, the sun was still hiding behind the clouds, preventing a great sunlit shot.
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A spot that has come to be known as the "Granby Overlook", west of Granby, a UP officer's special charges west toward the setting sun. As you can see, the skies are partly cloudy, and the train is moving in and out of the shadows on the trip west.
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The Continental Divide stands tall in the distance as a westbound UP officer's special is moving along at track speed west of Granby. The train overtook BNSF's Denver-Provo, which is sitting in the siding at Granby.
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UP 4533 and UP 4404 sit on the main at Tabernash, waiting for the arrival of the eastbound California Zephyr, currently in Fraser Canyon. Plenty of snow still remains on the Continental Divide, as well as on the runs at the Winter Park ski resort. Note some of the houses in Tabernash in the background are located in between the main track and the siding.
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A UP officer's special sits stopped on the main track at Tabernash. The train will be delayed around 15 minutes as it is waiting for the eastbound California Zephyr, which has just completed its station stop at Granby.
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Just west of the Continental Divide, the valley really opens up and passenger trains can reach 60 MPH between Fraser and Tabernash. This westbound UP officer's special is not moving anywhere that fast as it is approaching an Approach (yellow) signal at East Tabernash. The train will hold the main to wait for the eastbound California Zephyr.
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A UP officer's special charges west on the main track between Fraser and Tabernash. The ski runs at Winter Park, some of which are still open as of this picture in late-April, offer a fantastic backdrop to the train as it parallels US-40.
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When UP runs a passenger special, they always make sure the power is pristine and matches wonderfully with the equipment. Here, a pair of SD70Ms leads 11 cars by the Winter Park ski resort. The resort is still open, and plans to remain open "as long there is enough snow".
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