This past Friday (5/25/07), I heard that Amtrak 6 was running about twelve hours late. There was a possibility that the eastbound Zephyr would hit the Front Range here in Colorado in morning light (a very rare thing indeed). I set the alarm for 4:45am Saturday morning. Amtrak's website (as of 9pm Friday night) had it arriving in Denver around 5:45am. I figured that could change during the night, so a quarter to five would be about right! Turns out Amtrak lost some time overnight, with an ETA into town at 6:50am. I set out for somewhere in the area of Blue Mountain and ended up setting up on a hill near the base of Coal Creek Canyon. Not more than five minutes after sunrise, UP's MPVNY came by ahead of Amtrak. I was somewhat surprised that the manifest was kept in front of the late Number 6, but there may have been circumstances unknown to me that required it. Five minutes behind the MPVNY came Amtrak, running on yellow signals. For the most part, the train was not yet in direct sunlight at the base of the canyon. Amtrak passed the MPVNY at Rocky and had clear signals into town. From Blue Mountain, I headed down to Leyden for the last shots of the morning. 1. The MPVNY winds its way through the curves at Blue Mountain ahead of Amtrak 6. 2. Amtrak 6 running twelve hours late, passes the base of Coal Creek Canyon with AMTK 185 on the point. 3. Amtrak is now on the approach to Clay, still running on a yellow signal. The Denver Skyline is visible in the distance. 4. Finally, basked in full morning light, Amtrak hustles along just west of Leyden to try to make up as much time as possible! Hope everyone had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend!
Nery nice!That last shot takes the cake, very well-done! If I had that sort of info, I would have set up somewhere in Tunnel 2-8 area, likely Tunnel 3, shooting from atop T2, towards T3's east portal. A fantastic shot all morning long. But your mileage may vary....
I definitely agree with you in principle and in fact I considered heading up that way. Three things stopped me though. First, I wasn't sure if Amtrak would arrive pre-dawn, and I figured there would be less light west of Tunnel 2 as it is more enclosed so I'd need a slow shutter speed or higher ISO. Second, there was a westbound holding off the grade crossing up at Plain and I didn't want to head down toward Tunnel 2 with them sitting right there. And finally, my scanner batteries were completely gone, so I was "flying in the dark" - I wasn't sure where Amtrak was or how much time I really had. I knew if I setup at Coal Creek, I could watch the tail end of the coal train (hanging out Tunnel 1) and knew that time was growing short once he pulled into the clear. However, in hinds sight, if I could have made it to the west end of Tunnel 2, Amtrak probably would have been in the light and it would have made for a great shot!! :teeth:
I swear, my scanner has been useless on most of my Moffat trips. We usually hear 'Todd' or any of the other MOW guys when they get track & time, but little else. A scanner seems to be excess weight...
For those not yet blessed to see some of the most beautiful country in the world, here'sa few views I would have tried... Tunnel 2 east portal: Looking at Tunnel 3 east portal, from Tunnel 2: Nice morning light at Tunnel 3 east portal: Or even better, Tunnel 7 east portal (the WB Amtrak shot would be better with an EB):
Great shots, Kevin. Sometimes the best pictures come at a time when the light is not perfect, by the book, In fact the result may be more artistic by not following structi rules. I like the results here.
