Western Railroad Discussion > Spring Snow in the Rockies

Snow in the Denver-area is certainly not uncommon in April, and the overnight and in to today was no exception. I love days like this because the roads are, generally, not bad (due to the weather), but the landscape has a great blanket of white across it. Two of the three Amtrak P42DCs that currently sport the Phase 7 scheme (AMTK 138 and AMTK 82) were leading the westbound Zephyr. Got a few shots of the Zephyr to start...

1. The westbound Zephyr is making the climb up and around Big Ten Curve with a pair of very colorful units on the point. In just a minute, the train will be knocking down a clear (green) signal at the east end of Eisele (Clay) in the distance.

2. Just west of Tunnel 18, the morning Zephyr wraps through a black and white winter wonderland. In reality, I took a bit of artistic license here and removed all the color from the photos, save for the two Phase 7 P42DCs on the point of the westbound train.

3. The Zephyr rolls west on the main at Crescent, horn blowing for the approaching grade crossing.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

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Then, this afternoon, the final test run of the Rocky Mountaineer's "Rockies to the Red Rocks" made its way east from Glenwood Springs back to Denver. Revenue runs for the Mountaineer start next Wednesday.

4. Out of Tunnel 19, a test run of the Rocky Mountaineer (ahead of the 2024 season) approaches a clear (green) signal at the west switch of Crescent.

5. Wrapping around the near-180° curve at the west end of Crescent, the eastbound Rocky Mountaineer is headed back to Denver on a test run before the revenue season starts next Wednesday.

6. The Rocky Mountaineer GP40-3s (rebuilt from GP40-2s) are fit and ready to go for the 2024 season! The matched paint scheme with the rolling stock looks really fantastic as the train rolls east through a semi-snowy scene at Blue Mountain Drive.

As great as the conditions were, I'm definitely looking forward to spring. Which in Colorado amounts to about 10 days between the cold of winter and the raging heat of summer! :)

Thanks for looking and enjoy the weekend.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/24 20:09 by ColoradoRailfan.

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Very nice bunch.
JB

Killer series Kevin! Shot #2 is Fantastic and #4 is "over the top":}

Very NICE!

texchief1

Awesome shots!!

Very enjoyable snow series!!

Larry

The new paint scheme really "pops" in the snow.  In the long list of stupid things that Amtrak does and has done, I'm soooo glad that choosing a new paint scheme for the GEs didn't get shoved to the bottom.  So nice to see the boring "3 sheets" scheme finally put to rest.

Andy

Kevin,

Once again, you "knocked it outta the park!!"

Nice, nice work!

Rich Farewell

Man those shots look great!

Posted from iPhone

Those are amazing! I might make #2 the wallpaper on my phone, if that's cool with you!? Lol

Tom Loftus
Omaha, NE

Thank you, Kevin! Once again I take my first morning sip from the coffee mug whist gazing upon a 1st-Class IOTD. Good job... :^)

Lance

"Exquisite"

AndyBrown Wrote:
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> The new paint scheme really "pops" in the snow. 
> In the long list of stupid things that Amtrak does
> and has done, I'm soooo glad that choosing a new
> paint scheme for the GEs didn't get shoved to the
> bottom.  So nice to see the boring "3 sheets"
> scheme finally put to rest.
>
> Andy

Ditto!  Really like the new Amtrak scheme!

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

Great shots Kevin! Yes, I'm ready for Spring too!

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

Great shots!!! Thanks for sharing them.

Thank you everyone for the kind words. Always very much appreciated.

OmahaTom Wrote:
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> I might make #2 the wallpaper
> on my phone, if that's cool with you!? Lol

Please do!! :)

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Very nice!!!

Nice shots Kevin. Reminds me of those spring snows in Arvada-one year with. 5 ft. drift across our driveway.

PCBill

I will join the chorus, great series of shots...reminds me of my  trips to Tennessee pass in the 90's to catch the last trains across that line...thanks for posting.