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Our train arrives at Greeley, CO the morning of May 26, 1985 behind DDA40X "Centennial" 6936, which handles the train Denver-Speer.
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Rocky Mountain Railroad Club drumhead.
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Recreating the "Big Then, Bigger Now" billboard of the late 1970s, Centennial diesel 6936 turns over our excursion train to Challenger #3985 at Speer
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Not long out of Kentucky, and not yet with his trademark beard, engineer Steve Lee backs #3985 onto its train at Speer, Wyoming.
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RMRC catered to the hard-core fan on its excursion, providing a baggage car on the head-end for videographers and sound recorders.
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Rigged up and ready to record sound.
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After leaving Speer, we make our first photo runby a mile west of Emkay on the 1952-built "Main 3"over Sherman Hill. #3985 has backed up and begins its smoky charge toward the assembled photographers..
blair.kooistra:
After leaving Speer, we make our first photo runby a mile west of Emkay on the 1952-built "Main 3"over Sherman Hill.
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Back in 1985, a ticket on the excursion got you free run of the 15-car train, including the single dome coach on the rear end.
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Railfan Tim Brickner, of Houston,has goggles and bandana on to ward off flying cinders as he takes in the show from an open baggage car doorway.
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Photojournalist Kyle Brehm of Hanford, California, photographs the railfans during a stop for a photo runby west of Emkay, Wyoming.
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Another photo runby near Harriman, Wyoming, in the smoky Steve Lee tradition.
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What a happy bunch! Rail photographers ready for a runby. Note variety of equipment used by fans in the 1980s. Todays it'd be 90% Nikons or Canons, if it isn't an iPhone or iPad.
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During or stop in Laramie, #3985 's 25,000 gallon tender is replenished, and a father shows off the locomotive to his child.
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At Laramie, Wyoming.
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The grandson is impressed, sure, but grandpa looks just as happy as #3985 makes new memories and rekindles old ones at Laramie.
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Eastbound now out of Laramie, #3985 performs another smokey photo runby.
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Photographers lineup to reboard the train after a runby east of Laramie.
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Challenger #3985 obscures its train as the crew gets into the spirit on a--downgrade--photo runby just west of Buford, Wyoming, on the original line over Sherman Hill.
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Ahead of a thunderstorm, #3985 looks right at home on the original double track grade over Sherman Hill, running on MT-1 eastbound approaching Buford, Wyoming.
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Back in 1985, there was still smoking in the single lounge car provided in the 15-car train. And a LOT of beer drinking by this group.
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Picking up passengers after the final photo runby, behind Centennial 6936, just south of Speer, Wyoming, near the Colorado border.
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Final photo runby with DDA40X Centennial #6936--on its first trip in excursion service--just south of Speer, Wyoming.
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Racing south in Northern Colorado, a fan measures the speed using his watch.
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Naptime on the ride home to Denver. Dreaming of Sherman Hill and Big Boys? Imagining a 4000 coming back to life? One can dream, can't they?