Amtrak engine 171 (P42DC) leads the California Zephyr with no ditch lights through Keenesburg, Colorado.

A pink sunrise glints off the side of the California Zephyr as it splits the signals near Keenesburg, Colorado.

The California Zephyr runs through a crossing at Wiggins, Colorado as the sunrise casts a sepia glow over the tracks.

Amtrak engine #171 (P42DC) leads the California Zephyr through Keenesburg, Colorado as a pink sunrise reflects off the side of the train.

After meeting a westbound coal train at Thompson Springs, the eastbound California Zephyr dashes across the desert and under I-70 en route to Grand Junction.

Amtrak 171 departs Burlington with the Westbound California Zephyr and passes one of the old warehouses in town.

The California Zephyr passes through Tolland, Colorado and past the historic schoolhouse as it crosses a bridge leading to the Moffat Tunnel portal.

AMTK P42DC No. 171 is on point of the California Zephyr as it passes through Leyden, Colorado heading up into the Rocky Mountains

The California Zephyr is in full snow whippage mode as it runs at track speed through Tolland, Colorado on its way to the Moffat Tunnel.

The Winter Park Express Ski Train runs through Eisele, Colorado as it takes a load of skiers and snowboarders to the Winter Park Ski Resort.

A lengthy Amtrak 90 nears the station stop at Richmond with a single P42 for power.

Winter Sunrise on Denver
Westbound just after first light Amtrak 1105 the WPE is leaning into it at Leyden just after 0730.

First Light in the Canyon
Westbound just after first light in the canyon west of Rollins, CO Winter Park Express lifts the snow for my camera.

The Winter Park Express Ski Train heads back to the passenger platform at dusk and will take exhausted skiers back to Denver, Colorado. After a day full of skiing, snowboarding and tubing it feel... (more)

Amtrak's Winter Park Express Ski Train is about to conclude another successful year shuttling skiers and snowboarders from Denver to the Winter Park Ski Resort.