UP 1989 Heads West for the Third Time
News Story Posted By Kevin (Click Name To Email)
Monday, January 8, 2007 - That's right, for the third time since being unveiled in July 2006, the Rio Grande Heritage Unit is making its way west of the former Grande. The train departed North Yard (with the same power from the MPUNY-06, click here to see pictures) just after 9:30am. However, it got stopped at Lamar Street while waiting for a second crew to come out of North Yard and get on board. The second crew was to be shuttled to Plain where a westbound was tied down and waiting.
Around 11:15am, the second crew showed up and climbed on board. The train started west, getting up to track speed while moving through Arvada (click here to see these shots). The train went around Big Ten Curve at restricted speed and then entered Clay siding to wait for an eastbound.
There are a lot of slide fence problems between Plain and Cliff and trains are moving at restricted speed. As of this posting, the eastbound had not yet reached Plain (UP 1989 (Search Photo Gallery) has been sitting at Clay for about 90 minutes now). The plan is for the meet to occur at Clay and then UP 1989 (Search Photo Gallery) will move up to Plain, drop off the second crew, and continue west through the slide fence territory. The crew on UP 1989 (Search Photo Gallery) is good until 7:30pm, so it is possible that the train won't even make it through the tunnel! Another crew may well be called and the train held somewhere like Rollins for the new crew.
Time will tell! I'll update this News Story throughout the afternoon. Feel free to check back for updates.
Update, 2:30pm: UP 1989 (Search Photo Gallery) has finally reached Plain and is in the process of dropping of the crew for the MNYGJ-07, tied down in the siding at Plain.
Update, 3:20pm: UP 1989 (Search Photo Gallery) has reached west Crescent and is being flagged past the red signal by DS-82. Due to slide fences between Crescent and Cliff, the train will proceed at restricted speed.
Update, 5:00pm: UP 1989 (Search Photo Gallery) has not yet made it to the Moffat Tunnel. A crew has been called out of Phippsburg for the train at 2:45pm. There is also an indication that the Heritage Unit may be pulled off in Grand Junction, not actually making it all the way to Provo. More as it comes!
Update, 5:45pm: UP 1989 (Search Photo Gallery) finally made through the Moffat. It took three hours to run from Plain to the tunnel. Even at restricted speed (10 MPH), that trip would only take 2 1/2 hours...so sounds like they got pegged again. Probably the last update for tonight, unless I hear something else substantial.
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