Western Railroad Discussion > Union Pacific Engineering special in Eastern Utah

As previously posted by others, Union Pacific ran an Engineering Special from Denver to Helper, UT this past Tuesday July 28th. I had planned on shooting the special East of Grand Jct and drove out to Rifle, approximately 60 miles out from GJ where I encountered rain showers and dark clouds. There were some openings in the clouds however so I was hoping for a "sucker hole" with some nice storm light in the background, possibly even a rainbow! Well that didn't work out as the train seemed to follow the cloud cover with Sun shining at locations just minutes before the train showed up and bright spots behind the train.

After driving all the way back to Grand Jct. without having taken one picture, I decided on a location West of GJ where the tracks enter into Ruby Canyon.

1) I sat at this location for nearly 30 minutes in roaring sunlight and once again, just as the train showed up I got hit with cloud cover:{

Not willing to admit defeat, I continued driving West into Utah. Finally getting out of the clouds, I had 2 locations in mind but both had cruddy Sun angles.

2) I then hightailed it to Thompson and with only minutes to spare, I was able to get this shot of the special just East of town with the Book Cliffs in the background. To the left of the fifth car, you can still see the bridge piers that are left over from the narrow gauge days!

3) I tried for one more shot and got it at last light as it cruised into Green River.

Over 300 miles on my car to get just 2 good shots! Oh well, I hadn't taken a train picture for quite awhile so I was making up for it with this train I guess:}



 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/20 16:27 by SP8595.

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I'd be happy with #2! Very nice series.

Ryan

#2 is stunning! I totally missed the train, so I’m enjoying everyone’s photos.

Posted from iPhone

Well done!

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

No. 2 is the slam dunk!!

Brian black
Castle Rock, CO

I like 'em all.

Bismarck  Bill 

Nice bunch of shots!

Numbers two and three should make you forget about getting cloud screwed in number 1.  Nice shots!

Good chase, great photos. Any info on who or what purpose the Engineering special is all about, maybe just out to check around?

Thompson is not the place to be playing off road with any chance of rain...I seem to remember having tried it once.
t4p.

Great work !  Glad the clouds finally let you win a few. You certainly earned these beauties !

Yeah, 2 and 3 are keepers, made up for 1.

Great shots, seems to be worth the effort, wonder how it is returning east? === === = === JLH

What route did it take to get to Denver? upkpfan

Same train made it through Kansas today eb.  You got the best picts.  Great photos.
sd-45

Council Bluffs - North Platte - Cheyenne - Denver route === === = === JLH

Great low sun angle colors in 2 and 3!
GK

Love the low light and hill shadows on #3!

Allen

Posted from Android

Very nice chase results---#3 really is a gem
Brian Stevens

Strong determination, paying off!

Been a long time since I've run up the hill in #2.  Been a long time since I've seen a westbound that time of day to make it worth it.  Brings back a lot of rather winded memories.

Fantastic stuff in 2 and 3.  Makes up for getting screwed by the cloud in #1.