California Zephyr Ride-Along! Lincoln to Salt Lake City.

[Mark Watson]

Soldier Summit's cut backs. (8:08)

Entered the greater Salt Lake area (9:02)

Just a little while longer until Provo. 

[Mark Watson]

Leaving Helper. 

[Mark Watson]

Well, there's not very many people left on the train tonight. At least not in this car. 

[Mark Watson]

Pulling into Helper, UT. 

[Stourbridge Lion]

Enjoy the rest of the ride into SLC and have fun at Sundance! 

[Mark Watson]

Well, the last bits of light are slipping beyond the horizon. There likely won't be any more sights to report until we reach the destination. 

I'd at least like to catch a glimpse of Soldier Summit, but who knows in the dark. I guess well know when we're closer. 

[Mark Watson]

Green River. 

Looks like we have a tiny crescent moon and Venus visible towards the West just above a beautiful red orange sunset. 

[Mark Watson]

Last time I rode the Zephyr I learned that Utah has more national parks than any other state.  I used to own a Jeep Wrangler and it was alway my dream to go rock crawling with it in Moab. :(

Someday I'm going to get another Jeep and check that item off the bucket list! :)

[Mark Watson]

Exit Colorado, enter Utah. (4:46)

[Mark Watson]

Whoa! Just passed a scene with several emergency vehicles and a truck on its side about 50 feet off the road!  

[Mark Watson]

And now departing Grand Junction. 

[Mark Watson]

Stourbridge Lion

Say Hi to Ben for me...

I don't see Ben today, but I'm sure he gave the train a wave as it rolled through town. 

In any case, Hi Ben! :)

[Mark Watson]

Oh boy. I had another little nap and all the sudden we're in Grand Junction. :)

[Stourbridge Lion]

Say Hi to Ben for me...

[Mark Watson]

Just a little ways more to Grand Junction. 

[jeaton]

jeaton

Mark Watson:

Haha, well I captured a video of our meet with the eastbound... But my apparently my phone got confused which way was up!

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff504/WildMarker/c8fc3591.mp4

 

Activating the link.

Then turned the monitor upside down.

[Mark Watson]

Saw a drum on the ground that said "Diesel water".  Interesting. :p  (1:57)

 Crew announcement "I need immediate assistance in the lower level of the 11 car...I need immediate assistance in the lower level of the 11 car."  I'm in the 11 car.... :/ (2:14)

[jeaton]

Mark Watson

Haha, well I captured a video of our meet with the eastbound... But my apparently my phone got confused which way was up!

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff504/WildMarker/c8fc3591.mp4

Activating the link.

[Mark Watson]

Aw someone brought a sandwich back to their seat and it smells delicious! :p

Double whistle, and we're moving. 

[Mark Watson]

Forgot to note exactly when we stopped (and it was a hard stop) but we've been in Glennwood Springs for about 10 minutes. 

[Mark Watson]

Going away

Bookshelf rocks

Red rocks

Two rock trolls

[Mark Watson]

Do you see it? :)

[Mark Watson]

Haha, well I captured a video of our meet with the eastbound... But my apparently my phone got confused which way was up!

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff504/WildMarker/c8fc3591.mp4

(EDIT: Darren activated link)

[Mark Watson]

Pulling out of Fraiser. (10:11)

Whoops. Took a little nap. :D

Woke up to some strange book shelf looking rocks. :) (12:23)

Now the rocks have turned red. (12:32)

Time for an afternoon beverage. :)

Passed Milwaukee Road bay window caboose 992138 just sitting on display out in the middle of nowhere. (12:44)

Whoa! Tunnel!  (12:45)

As I look back at the tunnel we just passed I see two rock trolls above it! I took a photo, see if you see them too. :p 

According to the schedule we should be passing the Eastbound any minute. :) (12:53)

And there it is!! (12:54)

Now entering the georgeous glenwood canyon (1:01)

The river is dead still today and I can see straight to the bottom! It only appears a couple feet deep in the center. 

Tunnel (1:11)

Cross under I70 (1:11)

Down here the river is completely iced over. 

Tunnel (1:13)

Cross under I70 again (1:13)

Down farther, now the river is moving. No rafters out today though. Hmm. I wonder why. :p

There's an American Flag perched high on one of the south ridges of the canyon. I always watch for it but today I think I already missed it already. :(

[Stourbridge Lion]

Well, since it looks like Mark is still out of Cell Phone range here is another video from a past trip that shows this section.  Railroads around here go "though" the Rockies, not around them...

watch?v=tICyMWimSiw

[william6]

Just checked the Amtrak website for train no. 5 status, and it is 18 minutes early into Glenwood Springs, CO. at least at this hour.

[Deggesty]

"Coming up on Gore...." that is quite an experience; as my wife says, "you look out one side and you look way down, and you look out the other side and you look way up." We have an excellent picture (from a UP calendar) of a freight (all that can be seen is the front of the engine) coming through the canyon, and you can see that there is no more room than is necessary for the track.

[Mark Watson]

Coming up on Gore, but I'm on the wrong side of the train. Gotta find a seat on the left...

[Stourbridge Lion]

Quentin,

Keep in mind before the Moffat Tunnel was built the line had to go up and over the pass so there are other Tunnels and Bridges that would have been used yet that are just historic ruins today.

Here is a shot of a collapsed Tunnel and the trestle that went over the top of it before the Moffat Tunnel was put into place.

[Mark Watson]

SteamDonkey74

Gorgeous scenery there, Mark! I like how you called that one feature "Hemi's Spire."

 

 

Yeah, that originated from my first trip aboard the Zephyr. :) Jeremy aka "Hemi" over on the other boards saw I caught a photo of that spire and was excited to use it as reference for his current layout.  Ever since then it's been known as "Hemi's Spire" :p  

Its a pretty recognizable landmark too. I wonder if our name will stick. :p Or maybe it already has a name we don't know about.