Union Pacific MRONY (Roper Yard to North Yard, Denver manifest) freight nicely fills Big 10 Curve approaching Rocky, Colorado, on a beautiful Valentine’s Day 2015 afternoon. Seven locomotives are up front, starting with EMD SD70ACe No. 8559, followed by a pair of GE AC4400CWs—Canadian Pacific No. 9576 and UP 7036. Next up are two General Electric “Tier 4 compliant” ES44ACs—GECX Nos. 2024 and 2023 in vibrant solid blue. Rounding out the consist are a pair of EMD SD70ACes—UP Nos. 8668 and 8362. Seventy-nine cars later and on the upper part of the curve is lone DPU GE ES44AC No. 5309 on the rear. This view of Big 10 Curve is from the southwest, and winter lighting is best for this slightly different angle—but the hike in and up is more pleasurable in mild weather!
