Now for something completely different! Due to a surplus of vacation days towards the end of the year I found myself with an extra outing in the weeks between my Chicago trip and the typical Christmas adjacent big city transit trip I do each winter. Thanks to one friend's top tier Southwest status and another friend offer to host, I was heading back to Denver for what turned out to be a chill out and drink weekend that didn't leave much for rail activities. Still, I managed to fit some in here and there so I have something to share with you today. You can find the full set of photos here (mirror).
My first attempt at rail activities was a brief stop at the east end of the ROCKY siding on the former DRG&W Moffat Tunnel route. Although situated at the base of the Front Range, the line has already done a significant amount of climbing in the 16 miles from downtown Denver to reach the tunnel portal located at over 9000 feet in elevation.
I had been over this route three times before on the California Zephyr, but always in summer. When the temperatures drop the MoW crews break out the snow gear in the form of fiberglass shrouds covering most of the movable parts of the switch mechanism. This also helps to trap the heat from the snow melting system.
On this day there was very little snow on the ground, but the wind was blowing and it was quite chilly.
The Rocky siding is overlooked by the famous Big 10 Curve, a boot shaped switchback that allows the track to gain a significant amount of elevation in a relatively compact space. The Rio Grand installed a number of surplus hopper cars filled with rocks to act as a wind/snow break.
From Lookout Mountain Park, west of Golden, I got this photo of the Cooers Brewery complex including a sizable rail yard, along with a photo of downtown Denver.
Non-rail attractions included the Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Dinosaur Ridge Park.
The old US 6 route heading towards Loveland Pass contains a number of vehicular tunnels. This route was largely replaced by I-70.
The change in elevation makes a huge difference as the weather can go from dry to snowing in just a few thousand feet. Here, taking the back road to bounder, we ran into a person making a poor life decision regarding their classic Z car.
On the way back to the airport I stopped by the Peoria RTD station where the R light rail line meets the A commuter rail line. Here RTD SD100 #140 is sitting at one of the R platforms. These LRV's were parts of the RTD's first 49 car order delivered in 1994.|
The commuter rail line uses 66 Silverliners V built in the now closed Rotem plant in Philly. Here #4061 makes a station atop at Peoria in route to downtown.
Airport trains are still scheduled to pass each other at the station which can create a hazard for riders using the at-grade crossings at either end of the station.
RTD #4009 en route to the Airport.
RTD SD100 #106 relaying after completing its run.
The three track R Line storage yard at Peoria.
That's all for this little diversion. Next week I'm back with the anual NYCTA Holiday Nostalgia Train as it makes a brand new run to 145th St on the (A)(C).
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