The westbound California Zephyr threads it way through Coal Creek Canyon as it approaches Plainview on a gorgeous June morning.
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The westbound California Zephyr threads it way through Coal Creek Canyon as it approaches Plainview on a gorgeous June morning.
It is not too often the opportunity comes up to get shots of Amtrak P42DCs and/or Amtrak Superliners passing by the Valmont power plant in Boulder on BNSF's Front Range Sub! Here, AMTK 169 is leading a special move from Longmont back to Denver.
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Amtrak P42 #169 with the westbound #5.
Amtrak 6, the eastbound California Zephyr has just crossed the Green River with the next stop, Grand Junction, two hours away.
Amtrak 6, the eastbound California Zephyr has just crossed the Green River with the next stop, Grand Junction, two hours away.
Beginning its westbound trek through the Rockies, the California Zephyr swings towards the portal of Tunnel 1 in Coal Creek, Colorado. This was my 2nd go at this shot, after my 1st attempt was foiled by Amtrak's lack of rested crews in February.
A P42DC and a P40DC lead a 90-minute late Zephyr west through the lush narrows of Barbara's Gulch just east of Rocky. Amtrak has now taken delivery on 15 ALC-42s from Siemens, the first of 110 such units. Over the next few years, the ALCs will replace the P42s and P40s on long distance trains, so shots of P42s and P40s on the Zephyr will become increasing rare.
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An eastbound UP coal load sits in the siding at Rocky, meeting the westbound Zephyr which rolls by on the main. After the Zephyr passes, the coal load will get a clear (green) signal to continue east to Denver. There, it will get a crew change and continue east on the Limon Sub.
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The westbound California Zephyr cruises through State Bridge on a smoky day on the Western Slope.
Chasing Amtrak out in open territory may not be the best idea. 45 miles from my previous photo. We end up getting to the same spot simultaneously. In fact it was so tight, I didn't have time to get out of the car. I just rowed down the passenger window, and did the best I could. He had 79 mile per hour track-age, 34 of those miles. And what seem like a straighter path for him. I had 80 mile per hour I-80. But had to deal with a couple 70 MPH construction zones. This is another shot you shouldn't see Amtrak at in the daylight. But a 4 1/2 hour late train made it possible.
Amtrak in some country not usually seen in the daylight. Four and a half hours late. Amtrak number 6 the Zephyr is still out on the Shafter Sub. With the heavy traffic from the detour trains on the line. They have been late all week. Just how late is the question? The have been anywhere form an hour to 7 hours. I needed them to be about 3 1/2 on a weekend for me personally to get a shot. The planets aligned this morning. They also have 3 private cars in tow today. Frisco Cimerron River, a Milwaukee full length dome, and Pacific Union.
The eastbound Amtrak California Zephyr rolls into Burlington, IA.
