Across America - Buffalo to San Francisco by Amtrak

It was already lunch time (although, by schedule, we're supposed to still be in breakfast service at this point in the journey), so we were back in the diner, enjoying our lunch, when we got this view of the dam at Gross Reservoir, in the mountains west of Boulder



The tracks then run along South Boulder Creek, up all the way to the entrance to Moffat Tunnel

 

We had finished our lunch, and were still nowhere near the tunnel. We were creeping along, at about 10 mph. Jackie and I made our way to the observation car, where we were able to find seats (that's her reflection)



As we slowed even further, the conductor finally told us what was happening. We were behind a freight that was struggling up the grade (single track area). So, it and us were going to pull into the siding just before Rollinsville, and let an eastbound freight pass us both. Then, we were going to back up onto the main, and get around the problem train.

While waiting we had this wonderful view of South Boulder Creek

 

After getting around the freight, we came into Rollinsville. Not much of a town, but the "gateway" to the east portal of Moffat



This was a pretty little house and bridge over the creek



And then, these small buildings, right before the tunnel



And, before we knew it, the world went black for about 10 minutes (6.2 miles)

 

The literal high point of the trip, 9100 feet in elevation, and crossing the Continental Divide, all in the darkness of the Moffat Tunnel. We went back to our bedroom, and when we emerged, we were in Winter Park



Photo of the resort lodging



The other side of the train, right out of the tunnel was more picturesque, but by the time I got to the window, we just had trees whizzing past.

 

And just a few minutes later, we were approaching our next stop in Fraser

 

The station platform, 8574 feet.



The vet clinic is right across the street from the station

 

From Fraser, we traveled alongside US Hwy 40, down towards Granby. Just outside of Granby was this huge llama farm. This was the best photo, but there were hundreds out in the field (most shots got obscured by the brush)



And the Granby depot



Outside of Granby, the front of the train as we make our way to the junction of US 40 and US 34 (which leads back up towards Rocky Mtn National Park).

 

From Granby, we started following the Colorado River. I kept trying to get a shot of these two mountains, through which the river and track travel between, unfortunately, this was the best shot, and doesn't show the river



But, here's a view of the river, with some interesting colored rocks on this hillside

 

There were a lot of people out on the river.

Here some fishermen



A little ways along, we came to this camping site. Just to the left, they were setting up a stage for a weekend concert



The mountainside, on the other side of the river from the concert

 

I thought this cloud over the mountains was pretty, hope you do too



The river continues to wind its way down



My wife spent most of this part of the trip knitting

 

Looking back up river, towards the highest points of the route, and Granby. It had been this slow curving route from their



But, just west of Gypsum, CO, we meet up with I-70 (which is also US 6 and US 50, here) and the river enters a rapids stage

 

With the presence of the rapids, we also started seeing a lot of white water rafters.





Some of them (no photos) stood up in the raft and mooned the train! (Don't worry, I did get a photo of bikers mooning us in Colfax)

 

At the end of the canyon, we came to our next stop, Glenwood Springs, which also serves Aspen.



One of the resort buildings

 

The Glenwood Springs depot



And, right around the depot, is the trendy downtown area, with lots of upscale restaurants

 

Leaving Glenwood Springs, it was already time for our dinner reservations (yes, by schedule, we're supposed to leave there at about 2pm), so back to the diner we trooped. We had a delightful meal with a couple from Florida, and the miles passed by the window.

As we finished up dinner and headed back to our cabin, in a blink of the eye (and it without Weeping Angels around, it was safe to blink), we were out of the mountains and approaching Grand Junction.

These escarpments were just amazing



The juxtaposition of this scrap yard versus the beauty of the mountains was, itself, beautiful



Making our way through the Grand Junction yard, the view south

 

Pulling into the Grand Junction station, we had a 15-20 minute stop, where we could get out and roam just a bit (and even hit the snack bar there, for those who wanted something different).

This is the old passenger station. The restoration project is halted mid project, and the location is for sale

The actual Amtrak depot is in the small building at teh lower left of first photo

 

I don't know if this building, next to the old station, is an original, or just new construction made to look like an old depot. Has the DRG&W logo on the side and says "Station" on the roof. It is an office building, housing the Bonsai Design firm

 

I got this photo of the front of the station - with its For Sale sign



And, our sleeping car, as we reboard and prepare for our journey into the night, and our crossing of Utah



The light was fading fast, so although the canyons between Grand Junction, CO and Green River, UT were beautiful to see, could not photograph them from the train. We began making up time starting in Grand Junction, closing the gap back to just about 3 hours as we pulled out of Green River.

At Green River, I-70 ends, and the tracks start paralleling I-15 north to Provo and SLC. What I thought was interesting was that, on a Friday evening, there was very little northbound traffic on I-15, but, southbound, there was a steady stream. Of course, the next major city to the south... Las Vegas.

With that, we retired for the evening, and didn't get up until Nevada.

To be continued....

 

I have a feeling new, but am now curious.... Sure is sad the depot restoration fell through.