Passenger Trains > Cloudy "Pepsi Can" and Charger shots

1) I was hoping for some Sun earlier this morning in Western Colorado as Amtrak engine #160, painted in the 50th Anniversary or what is referred to as the "Pepsi Can" scheme was leading an hour and a half late Eastbound California Zephyr. Unfortunately it was a "no-go' with the Sun as seen here with the train approaching Mack, CO as it heads towards its next station stop at Grand Jct.

The next two pictures were taken way back on August 24th, 2022. A bit dated to say the least but it looks like for some reason, I never posted these pictures here on TO'ers so hopefully still of some interest!

2) On another dark and gloomy day, this time out in Eastern Utah found the Eastbound Zephyr passing the East switch at Thompson with a 4-pack of new Siemens Charger engines. The 301 leading in a special paint scheme followed by the 309, 313 and 314.

3) Shooting the other side of the engines as this train also approaches Mack.

Again, the Charger shots were taken a year and a half ago. Looking back, maybe I should shoot more Amtrak trains before these ugly things become the normal power!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/24 13:21 by SP8595.

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First shot is very nice!  I don't care much for the Chargers either.

texchief1



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/24 15:00 by texchief1.

Nice catch! Good photos! 

Looks like an Amtrak cafe car is being dead-headed and either a Superliner Trans Dorm Sleeper as well; or this train is running with an extra sleeper in tow for some reason, as it looks like there are three Superliner Sleepers in between the Superliner Trans-Dorm Sleeper and the Diner......

Don't shoot me...but I like the Chargers. Glad you posted!

oyw Wrote:
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> Don't shoot me...but I like the Chargers. Glad you
> posted!

I like them too in this image, very much. Thanks much for posting these. All three are excellent, but numbers 2 and 3 with the Chargers in those new paint schemes are really quite impressive and IOTD material for sure. That livery really pops against that desert background on a line I've ridden a number of times, and which always impresses me in that area. Really excellent work!

MC

jp1822 Wrote:
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> Nice catch! Good photos! 
>
> Looks like an Amtrak cafe car is being dead-headed
> and either a Superliner Trans Dorm Sleeper as
> well; or this train is running with an extra
> sleeper in tow for some reason, as it looks like
> there are three Superliner Sleepers in between the
> Superliner Trans-Dorm Sleeper and the Diner......

I could be wrong but I believe this was the train with Siemens personnel on board recording data and/or consulting with Amtrak people on the chargers.

Posted from Android

The Chargers are no uglier the P42's. IIRC there was MUCH whining about the P40/42's design when they came out.

Excellent photo even without the sun.  Can't go wrong with the Pepsi can.

I'll take a Charger in an attractive paint scheme over a P40/42 in Amtrak's worst ever but longest lived "3 sheets" scheme any day!

Andy

AndyBrown Wrote:
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> Excellent photo even without the sun.  Can't go
> wrong with the Pepsi can.
>
> I'll take a Charger in an attractive paint scheme
> over a P40/42 in Amtrak's worst ever but longest
> lived "3 sheets" scheme any day!
>
> Andy

I wouldn’t

Posted from iPhone

Very nice shots, despite the weather not cooperating. That new paint scheme tends to conceal the bland look of the chargers, IMHO.
GK