Western Railroad Discussion > Here's Your SD70ACe-T4 (Tier 4) Fix!

Greetings!

Well, UP and EMD are taking two of EMD's SD70ACe-T4s back up to high altitudes on UP's Moffat Tunnel Subdivision this week. The units have spent the last couple of months tucked away inside the TTC east of Pueblo. They came to town last week and have been in UP's North Yard in Denver. Today, a crew was called for the SDVTNT-24 at 0630. The crew got the consist built and the train left Denver around 1320 hours.

A powerful afternoon thunderstorm came through Arvada just as the special was headed west, so I did the best I could with the dark/rainy storm lighting.

==============

1. The special cruises west on a clear signal at Leyden. Consist is very similar to last time. The trailing three units will likely be put in full dynamics as the two SD70ACe-T4s climb the grade. the SD70ACe on the point will probably be isolated and not load.

2. EMDX 1503, one of the two units back on the road for testing.

3. A look at the incoming thunderstorm from the west. It would leave marble-to-nickel sized hail and a lot of rain as it swept through the area. Just above the first SD70ACe-T4, you can see Ralston Valley High School.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

---

---

---

4. Nearing the west end of Barbara's Gulch (just east of Rocky), the special heads west at 15 MPH. At this point, the lead SD70ACe was indeed isolated and the SD70ACe-T4s were in Run 8.

5. You can see the rain coming down as we get a quick look at EMDX 1502.

6. Last shot of the day...the special creeps through the narrowest part of Barbara's Gulch. In addition to the trailing SD70ACe, a pair of GEs are being used as dynamic brake units.

==============

That's all I've got for now. I'm actually taking tomorrow off of work, getting my dad, and we are going over to the western slope to get some pictures of the train testing between Tabernash and East Portal. So hopefully you can get another fix tomorrow night!

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

---

---

---

Fantastic, at last! Great shots and narrative. Looking forward to the next update...any chance of some video...? ;-)

Thanks so much for posting this! Any word on what time they'll start testing Wednesday?

Regards,
Michael

Posted from iPhone

Thanks for posting these photos.  Is there a reason why a UP unit has to lead? An earlier TO post shows a demo unit leading the consist east to Denver. The GE in the consist seems to be a phase 1 Tier 4 unit?

exhaustED Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fantastic, at last! Great shots and narrative.
> Looking forward to the next update...any chance of
> some video...? ;-)

Thanks! Alas, I have not gotten in to video yet. I'm an all-photograph kinda guy right now.  :(

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

MDH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Any word on what
> time they'll start testing Wednesday?
>
> Regards,
> Michael


Best guess is probably after the westbound Zephyr, so probably 1100-ish at Tabernash. That is only a guess though...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

nygiant Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is there a reason why a UP unit has to lead? An
> earlier TO post shows a demo unit leading the
> consist east to Denver.


A good question that I don't have an answer for. I know the last time they went up on the Moffat, they also had a UP SD70ACe on the point for the journey west, and then returned with the Tier-4s on the point...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Nice catch, Kevin! Looking forward to what else you  find...

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Great pictures, but I still want to hear what they sound like.

Great coverage. Very interesting times. I can't wait until tomorrow... The Fix continues!

Great shots in some challenging weather! === === = === JLH

highgreengraphics Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great shots in some challenging weather!

Agreed, Great series Kevin!

Posted from Android

Is Colorado the ONLY state these things are allowed to run in? Sure seems like it.

tx_trainman43 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is Colorado the ONLY state these things are
> allowed to run in? Sure seems like it.

Can you name another state with track located at least 9,000 ft above sea level? Or can you name another location with a large instrumented Test Track?

tx_trainman43 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is Colorado the ONLY state these things are
> allowed to run in? Sure seems like it.

If it makes you feel any better, once they leave Colorado and EMD starts producing them, it'll probably be five years before another one actually makes it back to Colorado. :)

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Awesome job! Thank you for posting them - they look great.