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| PHOTOS: ROCKY (1562583) | |
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PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020 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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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by https://salaamallah.com/ on Thu Dec 3 03:39:25 2020, in response to PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020. GREAT PHOTOS |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Thu Dec 3 03:59:48 2020, in response to Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by https://salaamallah.com/ on Thu Dec 3 03:39:25 2020. Excellent photos! Thanks! |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Mitch45 on Thu Dec 3 07:08:39 2020, in response to PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020. Nice pix but where’s the man with three buttocks? |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Thu Dec 3 07:50:44 2020, in response to Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Mitch45 on Thu Dec 3 07:08:39 2020. Hmm? |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Lou from Brooklyn on Thu Dec 3 09:53:30 2020, in response to PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020. About 10 years ago I had a behind the scenes tour of Coors Brewery, this isn't the one that is open to the public but was arranged by a company that worked for my job and for Coors to see their operation at the plant. Funny thing since we weren't on the public tour we couldn't get the free beer, bummer.Coors gets their ingredients via train and still ships some finished product out by train as well. They call the twice daily trips to the plant "beer runs". The plant railroad is staffed 24/7 but back then had mainly four train crews per day and 6 locomotives. In the 90's they moved a lot more beer out of the plant by train then they do now 900 cars vs 200. Have about 35 miles of track, their own track department, shop, and refueling/sanding pads as well. One of the things that we saw RR wise was inside the brewery was use of a transfer table for the cars. |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Orange Blossom Special on Thu Dec 3 10:21:37 2020, in response to PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020. Too many off topic pictures.I thought Denver was supposed to be bigger too. |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Mitch45 on Thu Dec 3 12:25:34 2020, in response to Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Thu Dec 3 07:50:44 2020. The phrase "and now for something completely different" was made famous by "Monty Python's Flying Circus", in a sketch in which a BBC host interviews a man with three buttocks.I can't find the video link. |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by chicagomotorman on Thu Dec 3 14:03:56 2020, in response to PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020. AWESOME!!!!!!! |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Spider-Pig on Thu Dec 3 14:14:18 2020, in response to Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Mitch45 on Thu Dec 3 12:25:34 2020. It was used extensively in that series so I don't think that obscure sketch would be the connection anyone makes with that phrase. |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Spider-Pig on Thu Dec 3 14:17:48 2020, in response to PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020. Next to the photo of one of the Silverliners V, you can see a pot dispensary. I wonder if they sell Tegridy.Why aren't the shrouds just left on the rest of the year? |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by NIMBYkiller on Thu Dec 3 16:45:30 2020, in response to PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020. Fantastic stuff as always, but you really outdid yourself with that skyline one! |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by zac on Thu Dec 3 17:53:55 2020, in response to PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 2 22:52:37 2020. I saw Govt Mule at Red Rocks last year. Nice venue, but thought they were pretty mediocre and we left. There is no band like the original Allman Brothers. |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Fri Dec 4 02:37:30 2020, in response to Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu Dec 3 14:17:48 2020. They likely impede the work of MoW crews and risk being damaged by passing trains. I forgot to mention that brooms were on hand to sweep out snow from the points. |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Fri Dec 4 02:38:28 2020, in response to Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu Dec 3 14:14:18 2020. Yeah.... |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Fri Dec 4 02:39:16 2020, in response to Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Lou from Brooklyn on Thu Dec 3 09:53:30 2020. Wow, sounds like a good time. |
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Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY |
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Posted by Mitch45 on Fri Dec 4 11:56:13 2020, in response to Re: PHOTOS: ROCKY, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu Dec 3 14:14:18 2020. The only ones I can recall is the one I referenced and the one for the man with two noses. |
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