27 miles out of Denver Union Station, the Denver & Rio Grande Western route turns west into Tunnel 8, penetrating the imposing Flatirons during its climb toward the Moffat Tunnel and continental d... (more)

Two P42's are back to back as they lead the westbound Amtrak California Zephyr, train numbered 5, along the shores of the bay as it heads for it's final destination of Emeryville, CA.

Salt Lake City nocturne
Amtrak’s California Zephyr sits at the former Rio Grande Salt Lake City station on the night of March 1, 1994. Barely visible between the station and F40PH No.... (more)

Amtrak’s California Zephyr passes the Ski Train in the siding at Fraser, Colorado, amid a flurry of blowing snow on January 3, 2004.

Amtrak No. 5, the westbound California Zephyr, curves through Tunnel 29 and across South Boulder Creek at Pinecliffe, Colorado, on the morning of July 1, 2012.

On June 28, 1998, Amtrak No. 5, the California Zephyr is at Clay, Colorado. This train is running 10 hours late, and is entering Clay siding to meet Amtrak No. 6! General Electric-powered by two G... (more)

Rolling along the ex Rio Grande, engineer and RP contributor Tom Magazin has Amtrak's Phase 1 heritage locomotive up to track spped leading the California Zephyr.

A heavy early morning fog is just lifting off the Flatiron rock formations at Plainview, Colorado, as Amtrak’s California Zephyr crosses the west switch at Plain and is about to enter Tunnel 2 a... (more)

The California Zephyr gets it own scenic runby courtesy of the local wildlife, as the racket of the silver iron horse sends a herd of elk running along the tracks at the foot of the Rocky Mountain... (more)

Amtrak No. 5 comes around the granite ledge at Yuba Gap on the original Donner alignment. The new alignment, which tunnels through the granite here, is in the foreground. For now at least, the tra... (more)

Name: Westbound Amtrak 5 "City of San Francisco" climbs Donner Pass.

After a minor ice/snow storm coated everything nicely with winter, Amtrak's California Zephyr heads west over Blue Mountain Drive west of Clay, Colorado, on February 8, 2001.

It was a nice sight, as the "Pointless Arrow" Amtrak heritage unit (Phase I) came rolling around the corner in Biggsville. This is Amtrak #5, the outbound California Zephyr, about 25 miles from it... (more)

Amtrak No. 5, the California Zephyr is westbound, but for a moment on the approach to Big 10 Curve, is pointed east, as the train travels between Rocky and Clay on the morning of May 31, 2012. Cla... (more)

Amtrak No. 5 pauses at Truckee for passengers. At right, a Jordan spreader awaits the snows of the coming winter.