Chasing Western Pacific heritage 1983 over Sherman Hill

I spent the day in every kind of weather: snow, rain, freezing rain, sun, fog, wind. It was outstanding but a bit scary, especially when I saw multiple rollover accidents. Some I do not have a very good feeling about, I pray those folks have only minor injuries. I saw 2 jack-knifed tractor-trailer sets, 3 complete wrecks of tractor-trailer with totaled cabs, 4 pickups trucks in very bad shape, 3 SUVs rolled over, and several other accidents. Finally I made it to Cheyenne, and heard the Granite Switcher heading out. It almost always has old power so I gave chase, but as I headed out I caught this train with a former Southern Pacific SD45: http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107a.jpg

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Here was a nice angle and a nice toot from the UP crew:

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When I did catch up, the Granite job had a former Southern pacific SD40T-2: http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107d.jpg

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They met an eastbound K-liner:

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The fog got really bad at Granite: 

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Fortunately I called my wife to check the Summit cam and she said it was clear at the top  so I went to Buford and waited http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107i.jpg

As this westbound went by i was horrified to realize one of my favorite signal bridges was gone: http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107j.jpg

Sigh: http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107k.jpg

It's not the same without it:

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Finally the WP 1983 came up the Hill:

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And right back into the fog:

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I used every bit of the AWD for these shots:

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Down to Borie we go: http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107rr.jpg

The crew shut off the ditch lights for me in this shot, which was nice! http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107s.jpg

The snow returned and pounded us: http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107t.jpg

Finally, my other favorite shot of the day at Archer: http://members.trainorders.com/nh2006/WPchase120107u.jpg