Oregon and Northern California Hybrid Road Trip-Day 3

This building was THIS yellow!  It was in an isolated area in the
Front Range on our climb out of Denver to Winter Park.  All these
images along tour way were taken through the double pane and very dirty train
windows.

Before getting into the daily update on this hybrid road trip, I wanted to tell you that all images on this road trip have been, and will be, taken with my Olympus OM-D E-M5. Why? Because that is the only camera I brought with me.  I wanted to force myself to see if a camera such as the E-M5 can cut it on a professional level for stock photography if I were to choose downsizing permanently from my big full frame Nikons to this smaller sensor camera.  You will have to be your own judge as to the quality.

So far, I am very pleased.  The image I posted for yesterday's post, from the back of the train at 79 miles per hour, rolling left and right, jumping up and down, almost not being able to stand still--well, judge for yourself.  That 5 axis image stabilization is nothing short of miraculous and amazing!

Also, both in daylight, indoors and low light, the camera, so far, has performed admirably.  So, the test continues throughout the trip.  I'll be doing all kinds of photography on this trip.

Phase I; Virginia to California Via Amtrak-Day 3; Denver to Winamucca, Nevada.

We arrived in Denver on time, after being almost an hour late when I checked the timetable before going to bed.  Evidently, Amtrak builds in "fudge factors" to allow the trains to make their schedule. Same as with the airlines.  Smart thing to do.

We awoke just before we arrived in Denver and the day was clear, cool and beautiful.  When the train makes certain stops, they allow the passengers to get off, smoke, get some fresh air, whatever, and I always take advantage of those opportunities.  It is nice to take a few deep breaths of fresh air rather than the conditioned, and somewhat dry, air of the train.  The train air is not bad by any means, but drawing in some fresh air is always nice.

We left Denver exactly on time, as is Amtrak's habit.  We proceeded to the most spectacular portion of our trip on the California Zephyr.  We would ascend the Front Range of the Rockies west of Denver, traveling through 29 tunnels (I have heard different numbers) and exit the famed 6.2 mile Moffat Tunnel in Winter Park, Colorado.  The famous "Snow Train" traveled this route.

Colorado River through north central Colorado; from rear of train.

The trip up the western slope was slow and steady.  Thank goodness as the views were magnificent.  We wouldn't have wanted to go fast.  We zig-zagged up and around the mountains, while sitting in the sightseer/lounge car so we could get a great view on both sides of the trains.  The exclamatory comments from the other passengers, especially those who had never before been in the Rockies, said it all.  They were bouncing from left to right, shutters snapping constantly, while commenting on the beauty that surrounded all of us.  This trip up the mountain lasted a couple of hours.  This part of the trip alone was worth the entire journey.

I have been to Denver and up to Fraser/Winter Park a number of times, but I had never seen the sights I saw from the train.  If you ever want to do something neat, take the train from Denver to Glenwood Springs, spend the night, then take the train back the next day.  You won't regret it.  I would love to take this portion of the trip in the middle of winter when snow blankets the landscape.

There was a track crew working on the track as we ascended.  Evidently, the tracks had recently washed out with those terrible, terrible, rains Colorado experienced several weeks ago.  From what I was told, the railroad had just reopened that mountain passage. It would have been a real shame if we would have had to take the 175 mile detour around the mountain.

From there we followed the Colorado River for almost 200 miles. We through valleys, canyons, and ranch land.  This portion of our journey continued to provide some spectacular scenery.  Also, for a good way, we paralleled I-70, which tracks the Colorado River.

After a stop in Glenwood Springs, we proceeded to Grand Junction.  What most people don't realize is that the west central part of Colorado is pretty much scrub land and desert.  Grand Junction is right in the middle of that.  I had last been to Grand Junction in 1996.  Hasn't changed.  The train crew really pushed for the passengers to visit a little store right next to the tracks.  They must have mentioned it 4 or 5 times.  Hmm.  I wonder why the push?

I exited the train to make some images, including this one of the entire train.  The train had 2 engines, a mail car, a crew sleeper (as it was marked), 3 coaches, a sightseer/lounge car, a dining car and two sleepers. We were in the next to last car on the train.  Still close enough to hear the engine blowing its horn in the distance as you lay in your bed being rocked to sleep.

California Zephyr in Grand Junction, Colorado

Leaving Grand Junction, it wasn't long before we were in Utah.  We did see some pretty nice rock formations as we traveled southwest and left I-70 behind.  But the landscape was completely different than we had experienced earlier in the day.  We spent the remaining daylight hours traveling west through Utah.  Again, we had a pleasant dinner with our seating partners and also enjoyed their conversation.  Later, we retired to our room for some reading and listening.

The tracks seemed a bit smoother as we were going to sleep, so we drifted off after an absolutely spectacular train riding day.

I'll say it again.  If you want to ride a train and see some spectacular scenery in the comfort of a lounge car with large windows on both sides, ride the California Zephyr between Denver and Grand Junction.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!

Dennis Mook


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