Western Railroad Discussion > Rockies to the Red Rocks Test Run

Good afternoon!

Two weeks from today, the Rocky Mountaineer's Rockies to the Red Rocks is set to start its 2024 season. Today, a test run was conducted, departing west from Denver on UP's Moffat Tunnel Sub. If the test run follows the standard schedule, the train will spend tonight in Glenwood Springs before continuing on to Moab, UT tomorrow.

Last season, the two GP40-3s the train uses for power had quite a few mechanical issues, landing them on the "Injured List" off and on throughout the season. This year, two Horizon Rail (leased) units have been brought in. One is a former SD45 (now an SD40M-2), HZRX 8600. The other is a far more rare SD18 (now an SD18M), HZRX 187. All four units were on the train today. Not sure if the plan for revenue runs is to include all four units all the time, or just keep the leased units "on standby" if the geeps are down for maintenance.

1. The train is approaching Little Ten Curve, passing alongside a westbound BNSF coal load currently tied down in the siding at Rocky. The Mountaineer will briefly have to stop due to an air leak that developed after hitting a tire that was on the tracks at Leyden. The issue was quickly repaired and the train continued west.

2. The Mountaineer climbs the slope up to Big Ten Curve.

3. The Zephyr has made the climb up the 2% grade to the east portal of Tunnel 1 and is about to disappear in the tunnel.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

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doubt the new units are PTC ready

last year one of the old units got new pistons i heard, it came back and didn't last long

Nice shots, Kevin!

texchief1

Great catch and shots and very unusual power!

Does Rocky Mountaineer maintain their own power?   Or do they contract it out to Amtrak so it can fail again on the road............

Thanks Kevin for the nice photos and explanation of their new/old power.  I look forward to catching these locomotives this season.

Jim Barton

Cool shots Kevin,

Was a nice surprise to see the train in Glenwood Springs last night.  One question, are the operating crews UP people or Rocky Mountaineer people (ie, from another railroad)? When we rode a few years ago in Canada the operating employees were all former CP or CN employees.

Nice looking train.

Top Cat

MEKoch Wrote:
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> Does Rocky Mountaineer maintain their own power? 
>  Or do they contract it out to Amtrak so it can
> fail again on the road............

Last year, I saw the RM power at UP's North Yard in Denver. But I'm not sure if they contract out to UP to do the work, or if they are just borrowing the shop equipment there and are doing the work themselves...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

TopCat Wrote:
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> Cool shots Kevin,
>
> One question, are the
> operating crews UP people or Rocky Mountaineer
> people (ie, from another railroad)?

Thanks! This particular train is actually operated by RM employees. They went through a pretty extensive qualification process with UP pilots a few years ago before the start of the first season.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

they requalify every season maybe with the gaps in service?

Great shots!!

I REALLY like Pic 3!!