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Amtrak No. 6, the eastbound California Zephyr, drops downgrade out of Tunnel 1 and crosses the mouth of Coal Creek Canyon east of Plain, Colorado, on the afternoon of April 30, 2014. The city of Denver and eastern plains can be seen in the background.
On the morning of December 28, 2024, it was reported that Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr, with Phase IV Heritage Unit 164 on point, broke down somewhere way out west and Union Pacific stuck a freight unit on the train to drag it into Chicago. At that time, the train was running over 2 1/2 hours late, which would've put it into Chicago by mid-afternoon.
On this day, I had just started to recover from being sick from the previous two weeks, including Christmas Day, and I needed to get more medication. So I wanted to catch the train when I went to get more meds.
The train continued to lose time due to the reduced speeds of the freight unit. With long lines at the pharmacy, I went for the train first. But the Amtrak app was not updating, and I waited in the cold far longer than I thought. By the time the train passed me in Sandwich, IL, the sun had already set and was now well over 4 hours late into Chicago.
Not only would this be my last train I caught in 2024, these would actually be the last photos I took in 2024. Ironically, standing out in the cold for over an hour waiting for this was actually soothing to my sore throat, and the sickness finally broke the next night.
On the morning of December 28, 2024, it was reported that Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr, with Phase IV Heritage Unit 164 on point, broke down somewhere way out west and Union Pacific stuck a freight unit on the train to drag it into Chicago. At that time, the train was running over 2 1/2 hours late, which would've put it into Chicago by mid-afternoon.
On this day, I had just started to recover from being sick from the previous two weeks, including Christmas Day, and I needed to get more medication. So I wanted to catch the train when I went to get more meds.
The train continued to lose time due to the reduced speeds of the freight unit. With long lines at the pharmacy, I went for the train first. But the Amtrak app was not updating, and I waited in the cold far longer than I thought. By the time the train passed me in Sandwich, IL, the sun had already set and was now well over 4 hours late into Chicago.
Not only would this be my last train I caught in 2024, these would actually be the last photos I took in 2024. Ironically, standing out in the cold for over an hour waiting for this was actually soothing to my sore throat, and the sickness finally broke the next night.
Amtrak’s eastbound California Zephyr drops downgrade on Union Pacific’s Moffat Tunnel Subdivision at Coal Creek Canyon west of Clay, Colorado, on the morning of January 12, 2001. Amtrak 6 normally rolls into Denver in the evening, but on this day, the train is running 13 hours late!
Beneath lofty James Peak and the Continental Divide, Amtrak train 6, the eastbound California Zephyr, rolls downgrade through East Portal, Colorado, and is about to cross Gilpin County Road 16 grade crossing on the evening of September 25, 2024.
There’s a skiff of snow on a frigid November 30, 2004, and Amtrak’s eastbound California Zephyr reflects some warm light of a setting sun as it marches across the desert approaching Mounds, Utah.
A late California Zephyr lights up an s-curve as they duck into tunnel 1.
Running a cool 21 hours late, the eastbound California Zephyr drops downgrade through Coal Creek after sitting at Fraser all night on account of extreme winds. In the lead is the first P42 to get the new Phase VII paint, followed by Amtrak's Phase I heritage unit. A neat juxtaposition between where Amtrak started and where they have come.
At 5:52 p.m. on March 22, 2024, Amtrak’s California Zephyr descends off the front range mountains towards its next station and service stop of Denver. The eastbound train has just exited Tunnel 1 and is headed for the mouth of Coal Creek Canyon between aptly-named Plainview, and Eisele, Colorado. Train 6 this day is led by freshly-repainted GE P42DC No. 82 in current Phase VII colors, and is entering a large horseshoe curve that will send it eastward toward Big 10 Curve and a descent toward Denver.
Just a few miles into the journey after a morning departure from Emeryville (Oakland) the eastbound California Zephyr has one of the cleanest P42's I've seen in recent years on the point. Also of note are the pair of brand-new Chargers in tow; likely just released from the Siemens plant at Sacramento and being ferried east to be put into service.
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.
Amtrak’s eastbound California Zephyr passes East Portal, Colorado, after exiting the 6.21-mile Moffat Tunnel late in the afternoon of September 26, 2023. A sinking sun backlights golden aspen trees that dapple the evergreen-covered scenery at this 9,200-foot elevation not far from the Continental Divide.
It’s 4:57 p.m. and a setting sun is about to disappear behind the Continental Divide as Amtrak’s eastbound California Zephyr exits the Moffat Tunnel. Low sun rays graze golden aspens and the silvery passenger train, now beginning its descent to Denver at East Portal, Colorado, on September 26, 2023.
