When the San Francisco Zephyr left Denver, did it have to reverse direction, or was there a wye for a turn-around? I've seen maps of the area, and it seemed that trains going N (timetable W; i.e., toward Wyoming) and E (toward Nebraska, Chicago, etc.) left initially in the same direction. Did Amtrak follow the common European practice of reversing the train (creating at least part of a giant zig-zag)? I seem to remember reading that such was the case, with the train reversing again at Cheyenne.
When it actually went to downtown Cheyenne, it reversed direction for just that leg of the trip. Later, when it began stopping at the little "station" at Borie (not much more than a parking lot and waiting shuttle buses) outside of Cheyenne (see mapquest) it did not reverse. As I recall, there's a wye northeast of Denver Union Station.
I passed through Borie on the California Zephyr a few weeks ago on a reroute across Wyoming what a great ride indeed I finally got to ride across Sherman hill on Amtrak seeing sights not open to railfans anymore what a shame and we arrived in Denver almost 3 hours early
Did the engineers that were originally operating the lead Amtrak locomotive operate the Union Pacific GP-40 locomotive on that run, it seems like that would be the thing to do, is have the engineers that were working for Amtrak to be operating the Union Pacific GP-40 locomotive since it's still an Amtrak train.
D&RGW was still running its Rio Grande Zephyr which had been its portion of the Cal Zephyr. Amtrak ran the other two legs (Chicago to Denver, ex CB&Q, and Salt Lake City to San Francisco [actually Oakland], ex WP) and bridged the two segments on the UP through Wyoming.
I rode the SFZ several times in the 70s. I remember "running backwards" from Denver to Cheyenne. Also, during this time the train stopped in Ogden instead of Salt Lake City, and did the "Ogden shuffle" as it split up into the remaining SFZ and the Pioneer to either Portland or Seattle--can't remember which.
Also, during this time the train stopped in Ogden instead of Salt Lake City, and did the "Ogden shuffle" as it split up into the remaining SFZ and the Pioneer to either Portland or Seattle--can't remember which.
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"The Pioneer" went to both Portland and Seattle. It went to Portland first, then continued north to Seattle on the same track as that used by the "Coast Starlight."
First I thought: Hood unit? Yipes! But those flared radiators made me smile. The GP40X is a classy looking unit with those flared "SD45" radiator wings :)
Back when the lounge car has three bottom windows. Today, it removes 1 window.
AnthonyA5555 2 months ago
nice video, thaks for sharing
Did they provide small portable steps to help travellers inside the carriages, as there is quite no platform height here ?
nanba25 2 months ago
Good old Borie. Nice one.
LostOzarkRambler 1 year ago
Love it! Amtrak #323 is second unit, lead the Pioneer many times over the Overland Route in Wyoming.
844jim 1 year ago
I wish amtrak always had freights running head-end
jfsa380 2 years ago
Were these GP-40X's geared for 90mph service w/ the Amtrak trains?
BNforever2009 2 years ago
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! 5*****!
DJGENEX71 2 years ago
The oldest Amtrak video on youtube, nice job.
CoasterFan2105 2 years ago
When the San Francisco Zephyr left Denver, did it have to reverse direction, or was there a wye for a turn-around? I've seen maps of the area, and it seemed that trains going N (timetable W; i.e., toward Wyoming) and E (toward Nebraska, Chicago, etc.) left initially in the same direction. Did Amtrak follow the common European practice of reversing the train (creating at least part of a giant zig-zag)? I seem to remember reading that such was the case, with the train reversing again at Cheyenne.
decline2state 3 years ago
When it actually went to downtown Cheyenne, it reversed direction for just that leg of the trip. Later, when it began stopping at the little "station" at Borie (not much more than a parking lot and waiting shuttle buses) outside of Cheyenne (see mapquest) it did not reverse. As I recall, there's a wye northeast of Denver Union Station.
e44e33 3 years ago
I passed through Borie on the California Zephyr a few weeks ago on a reroute across Wyoming what a great ride indeed I finally got to ride across Sherman hill on Amtrak seeing sights not open to railfans anymore what a shame and we arrived in Denver almost 3 hours early
gaycowboy31 2 years ago
Did the engineers that were originally operating the lead Amtrak locomotive operate the Union Pacific GP-40 locomotive on that run, it seems like that would be the thing to do, is have the engineers that were working for Amtrak to be operating the Union Pacific GP-40 locomotive since it's still an Amtrak train.
Kjr0se 3 years ago
UP runs the locomotive because it is their rails not amtrak.
horselovermc 3 years ago
The San Francisco Zephyr? I didn't know there was an Amtrak train name like that.
RCdash9 4 years ago 2
D&RGW was still running its Rio Grande Zephyr which had been its portion of the Cal Zephyr. Amtrak ran the other two legs (Chicago to Denver, ex CB&Q, and Salt Lake City to San Francisco [actually Oakland], ex WP) and bridged the two segments on the UP through Wyoming.
e44e33 4 years ago
I thought Amtrak went over Donner pass at that time.
RCdash9 4 years ago
I rode the SFZ several times in the 70s. I remember "running backwards" from Denver to Cheyenne. Also, during this time the train stopped in Ogden instead of Salt Lake City, and did the "Ogden shuffle" as it split up into the remaining SFZ and the Pioneer to either Portland or Seattle--can't remember which.
musicandtrains 3 years ago
Also, during this time the train stopped in Ogden instead of Salt Lake City, and did the "Ogden shuffle" as it split up into the remaining SFZ and the Pioneer to either Portland or Seattle--can't remember which.
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"The Pioneer" went to both Portland and Seattle. It went to Portland first, then continued north to Seattle on the same track as that used by the "Coast Starlight."
decline2state 3 years ago
Do you have any other videos of a non Amtrak unit leading an Amtrak train?
deathstarmygnr 4 years ago
GP40X... nice :D
Ryanr4449 4 years ago
That siren is the old "waste" system on the superliners
ortingdude 4 years ago
why was the gp40x on the train did they need extra power
lexmarks567 4 years ago
Cab signals. The Amtrak F40phs didn't have them and the UP did. When I first rode this train UP used an E8 as the lead unit.
e44e33 4 years ago
First I thought: Hood unit? Yipes! But those flared radiators made me smile. The GP40X is a classy looking unit with those flared "SD45" radiator wings :)
ACLTony 4 years ago
Very very cool! It's a GP40X alright!
What's making the siren like sound when the train is about to stop?
cchan006 4 years ago
It might be the motor on the Amfleet door as it opens. Maybe a fan or a generator.
e44e33 4 years ago