Western Railroad Discussion > More EMD Demos on Moffat Line

I owe this to local friends who gave me the heads-up on this move of the EMD Demonstrators, which were delayed in Denver but then left later on a different train. The weather turned to periods of downpours in the mountains, with brief periods of sun.

Photo 1 - After missing out on leading the Denver-Roper Manifest due to paperwork problems, the Demonstrator duo spliced by the UPP 210 Laboratory Car was taken out to C&S Junction and added to the point of a westbound coal empty. Here they are seconds before being added as point power.

Photos 2 and 3 - Originally I was positioned above Tunnel 1, but the train took so long the sun slid around to a more afternoon angle, so I hurriedly relocated to the Blue Mountain crossing. I did not have the vehicle to get into the Big 10 curves, and I had it in my head to get tunnels so I needed more lead time than if I had to drive out of the curves.

There's mooore...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/13 12:51 by highgreengraphics.

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Photo 4 - I hiked into Tunnel 19, then settled on Tunnel 20, all the while in a driving, soaking rain. Luckily I brought an umbrella. I was set up against the sun to get the entire consist because it was so dark. Then as the train sounds became closer, the rain suddenly stopped, except the trees were still heavily dripping, and some bright blue showed in the sky. I figured I had better switch sides. After a lot of scratching and clawing, slipping and cussing, I got into position on the other side seconds before this, the lead EMD bursting out of Tunnel 20.

Photo 5 - A closer view, and impossible to get the whole consist due to the confines of being on this side!

Photo 6 - It was apparent only the Demonstrators were at work, they went roaring by with a screaming sound of continuous wheelslip. Here is a close view of the roof of the UPP 210 test car. I did not know that the top surface of the roof was also solar panels. Note the extra lights, cameras and PTS gear on the roof. The rocks visible just past the lead motor are where I was first set up to do the tunnel shot until I saw blue sky and decided not to risk getting stuck on the dark side in case the sun burst forth, which it did, but I'm not complaining...

There's mooore...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/13 12:53 by highgreengraphics.

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Photo 7 - I figured with the slow speed of the train, I could beat it around the horn to Winter Park. After the grueling nearly 2-hour curvy mountain drive past road construction, heavy traffic in and out of the casino town of Blackhawk, and half a dozen periods of torrential rain that was bringing mud and rocks down across the roads, somehow I made it there with some time to spare. Still raining, the westbound led by the Demonstrators exits Moffat Tunnel at Winter Park.

Photo 8 - In miserable conditions, the westbound approaches Tabernash, CO where the Demonstrators will repose for the night before returning this morning. That was the plan. I slept in my car at the East Portal of Moffat Tunnel to be ready first thing in the morning. I waited much of the morning until Track and Time was given to M of W at East Portal until 3:30 in the afternoon. I looked at the oncoming clouds and rain, and decided to return home rather than wait four more hours with no train traffic and nothing else to do, and lunch in Boulder was sounding mighty good.

Photo 9 - One oddball - While I was waiting for the Demonstrators to leave Denver in the morning yesterday, these two units were at the BNSF Diesel Pit. I believe I heard that the UP-painted WAMX Tunnel Motor is going to the Swan Ranch industrial park at Speer, WY just south of Cheyenne, but I have not heard where the red GMTX is going. Anybody know?

Happy, soaked railfanning! === === = === JLH



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/13 12:56 by highgreengraphics.

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Nice series .Anyonr have the lowdown on the test car?
Andy

Nice, stuff. Is that an SD45-2 in the background of your last shot?

Yup, and a snoot, too. All in yard and local service. === === = === JLH

They were doing wet rail adhesion tests on the 1206 as can be seen in several of the outstanding photos.

awesome pictures!

Excellent image JLH. You did a find job getting these shots. Images 4,5,7 and 8 should be in lined for IOTD. These four are award winning image. Way to go.

Gary
Aurora, CO

the test car has been such for many years but was converted from a heavyweight Pullman

GREAT SHOTS!

What is WAMX 4155's heritage. Looks D&RGW.

TIA

Rob

Outstanding effort on your part to get these great shots. I like the comment about adhesion testing. They probably got some good feedback with the rain providing real world conditions.

SilvertonRR100 Wrote:
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> What is WAMX 4155's heritage. Looks D&RGW.
>
> TIA
>
> Rob

I would think so. Doesn't look at all like a former SP tunnel motor...

X-DRGW 5395

SilvertonRR100 Wrote:
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> What is WAMX 4155's heritage. Looks D&RGW.

Yup. Short fuel tank and traction control box between the blower duct and electrical cabinet air filter box. Also appears to still have it's original (small) snow plow pilot. A check on the internet shows it was DRGW 5395.

Mark

That was a great series!

Todd Busse

Tunnel 20 to West Portal????

Mario Andretti has nothing on JLH.

Really like 4 & 5, very hot stuff!
—Mac

The_Chief_Way Wrote:
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> the test car has been such for many years but was
> converted from a heavyweight Pullman


This car had been out of service for several years and was stored both in Cheyenne and Council Bluffs. It was just recently completely rebuilt at the shops in CB and repainted at MAC in KC. This is the first I've seen it used since this extensive rebuild.
Steve