7/07/2009 I awoke while the train was sitting in Salt Lake City, the next crew change point. At departure time, the train reversed out of the station before continuing towards Ogden and Wyoming. I could see the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City then watched the Wasatch Mountains and napped as we passed through Ogden and started up Weber Canyon. I had hoped to photograph Devil's Slide but we passed that in darkness. I arose just before Echo, Utah and made my way to the lounge car.
The Weber River as we neared Echo.
There we started to pass the interesting rock cliffs of Weber Canyon.
The red cliffs of Weber Canyon.
Scenes climbing the grade towards the summit at Wasatch.
A junkyard of old automobile between the tracks near Castle Rock.
Curvo is where the westbound mainline crosses the eastbound mainline and we would return to right-hand running.
The scene just before the summit of the grade at Wasatch, Utah. Shortly we would cross the state line into Wyoming.
I was in the dining car for French Toast and sausage patties as the train dropped down into Evanston, Wyoming.
This scene before the Altamont Tunnel. My room was made up during our passage through the tunnel.
This scene after we exited.
The Uintah Mountains just across the border in Utah.
A tank in a Wyoming gas field. I put on Aerosmith's "Permanent Vacation" because I wished I could be on one for the rest of my life.
The FMC Chemical plant east of Granger with one of their switchers pictured.
Another plant to the south.
From Peru, the train would drop down the grade to our lowest point on our route, the crossing of the Green River.
The Green River flooding along its banks.
Green River, Wyoming, our crew change location where the Union Pacific allowed us to detrain for a fresh air break.
The unique Union Pacific Green River station built in 1910.
The Union Pacific pilot crew comes off the train.
The famous Green River Butte.
Our Denver-based crew arrived and at 9:07 AM, we departed and I started listening to Trevor Rabin's "Face to Face".
Leaving Green River behind.
Buttes east of town.
Along the way to Rock Springs.
Interesting rock formations as the train headed to the first of the two crossings of the Continental Divide. Two? The Union Pacific built their railroad across a basin from which water never escapes, so they cross the divide twice.
A well-preserved limestone building with walls at "Point of Rocks" is located at the remains of the historic Rock Point Stage Station which served as a relay point for the Ben Holladay Overland Trail Stages in 1862. I then listened to Trevor Rabin's self-titled CD with a song called "Red Desert" and we would see if I timed it correctly to be playing through Red Desert, Wyoming.
West of Tipton.
Red Desert and I listened to the song for the occasion.
Black Butte.
The oil industry is doing well in Wyoming.
One could see this flame for miles at Table Rock. The California Zephyr had a slow order at Table Rock before reaching the first Divide after Tipton and would now cross the basin at track speed.
The only basin of the Continental Divide.
Snow fences are along many miles of the Union Pacific tracks across Wyoming and are also here in places in the basin. We crossed the eastern divide and soon came to Rawlins which we just slowed for.
A lake east of Rawlins with some of those snow fences in the foreground. I put on my CD of Jethro Tull "Catfish Rising" next as we proceeded east towards Laramie.
A little lake on the way to Laramie.
To the south of our train was the Snowy Range of Mountains.
Interesting landscape as we go east across the state.
A nice lake with good colors. Minutes later, the westbound California Zephyr flew by just east of Rock River.
Montana is not the only big sky country state.
Wild buffalo just west of Laramie, which we rolled through at 12:58 PM and continued on to Sherman Hill up Track 1.
The California Zephyr started the climb up the west slope of Sherman Hill, leaving the Snowy Range behind.
An impressive thunderhead was brewing this afternoon.
The rocks at Colores.
The train entering Hermosa Tunnel.
Running through Dale.
Passing my favorite rock formation on Sherman Hill.
We reached the highest point on the Transcontinental Railroad.
Taking the Burford runby curve.
Curving into Burford. We ran Borie then took the cutoff to Speer, where we changed Union Pacific pilot engineers and were delayed slightly before we proceeded south towards Denver. I put on my CD of Queen "Cosmos Rockin'".
More elk south of Speer.
The Front Range of the Rockies from north of Greeley.
Elevators just north of Greeley.
The former Amtrak station in Greeley where I once boarded and detrained from the Pioneer. I then listened to Styx "Styxworld" and relaxed the rest of the way into Denver Union Station. After the train was wyed, it reversed into the station at 5:05 PM {7:38 PM}, ending another excellent Amtrak adventure via Wyoming on the California Zephyr.
Denver 7/7/2009 I walked over to the La Quinta Inn for the night, which took me almost an hour as my luggage was heavy. Fifty feet with one, then go back and get the other two. But at least I had something to take pictures of as I rested.
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Two views of BNSF, CSX and KCS motive power.
I was really happy to see this Kansas City Southern locomotive.
BNSF and Santa Fe engines outside the Denver engine house.
The yard power brought out a cut of cars during my trek. I made it over to the La Quinta Inn and checked in, had a shower then decided to see the view of the yard.
The view of the south end of the BNSF Yard. In the morning I would walk over to Enterprise, pick up the rental car and start the first of the next train trips, this one on the Georgetown Loop Railroad, but that is another story.
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