A Calif. Zephyr in Ft. Morgan on 12MAY2024 HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!

[@danboyd8686]

Good morning Mike. Nice smooth stop today. Beautiful chorus this morning all singing for Mother’s Day, and a happy Mother’s Day to Moms everywhere. Always nice to see Kelly or other Amtrak personnel take the time for a chat or wave. Makes your videos more personal. The train is the star but enjoy the supporting cast. Thanks and stay well.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Dan; Thank you for stopping by along with the comments. There was a nice chorus this morning. The even stuck around after the Zephyr departed. I am unsure who the staff person was. I have not met her before today. It was nice to catch up with Kelly again. His info on Lincoln was great to hear as I have many relatives in that area. As with all shows, without the supporting cast there isn't a show. Hope that you have a great Sunday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@user-AZ-phil]

Good afternoon Mike. The chorus seems to be really enjoying the damp, cool morning. I got a kick out of the birds almost drowning out your conversation with Kelly. I hope your "kind of" rain turns into something that makes the farmers happy. I'm starting to go into full summer mode, up all night, sleep all day. By the end of May, I may be hitting the sack about the same time the Zephyr is passing thru Ft Morgan. It, and good A/C, are about the only way I can deal with the upcoming Monsoon, due to start in late June. You take care. Enjoy your "kind of" rain, and I'll check in tomorrow.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Phil; I thank you for dialing in along with the comments. It is still raining as I write this at 1400 MDT. More than likely end within the next hour. But it has been a "growing rain" and not a gully washer as we sometimes get. Even heard thunder today. I do understand your sleeping issues. I'm that way year around anymore. I can lay down in the evening and be wide awake around midnight. Makes no difference if I force myself to stay up a bit longer or not. Anyway, Have a pleasant afternoon and evening down there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@kenclifford5556]

hi mike thanks for the catch today of #5.i too want to wish all the moms a happy mothers day. have a great day and stay safe.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Ken; I thank you for dialing in as well as the comments. I appreciate it. Have a great Sunday back there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@driverLester]

Good morning and happy Mother's Day to all Mother's out there! Thank you, Mike, for doing this and blessing us with a peek into an Amtrak day!

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, driver Lester; Thank you for looking in as well as the comments. I appreciate it. I like to peek in as well. Have a great Sunday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@carolynsteed3649]

Thank you Driver Lester.👋😉

[@geraldjones8032]

Enjoyed the video this morning. So neat that the crew takes time to greet you and talk to you. Looks like it’s going to be a nice day. Quite day for us in Albuquerque. Weather is nice. You and yours have a great day, and look forward to tomorrow morning video. Makes my day.😊😊😊😊😊

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Gerald; Thank you for dialing in as well as the comments. It was nice to chat for a bit with Kelly again. A neat guy. It is a super day here with rain falling where it will do the most good. It is to continue with the rain for most of the day. I can enjoy that. Have a wonderful Sunday down there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@curtisdavis5556]

Greetings Mike, what a great Mother’s Day Station Stop this morning. Loved the way the star of the show arrived smoothly and came to a stop quietly, as if to say this day isn’t about me: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the Mom’s reading this! Love the personal visit with Mike this morning and his greetings as well-AWESOME!! And just like that, Mike gave the “High-Ball” clearance and the #5 California Zephyr gracefully and quietly exited.Ft. Morgan, Rails West😎. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO THE Mother’s in your life, Shipmate. Be safe please.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Curtis; I thank you for tuning in along with the comments today. I was impressed that they were early on the arrival with several slow orders between McCook and here. The last one is just outside the city limits and if you watch, you can see the emissions change as he ramped back up to speed to the station. Un sure how many between here and Denver. Oh well. It was also nice to spend a few with Kelly today. He too is former Navy. Anyway, Have a wonderful Sunday out there in So-Cal. Please take care and stay safe!

[@marksmith4582]

Good Sunday morning Mike! Happy Mother’s Day to you and yours! I liked hearing Kelly say the weather was decent yesterday in Lincoln! It sure was here as well! Hope your weather holds out for you today! Always appreciate your videos! Mark in Iowa.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Mark; Thanks for dropping by along with the comments today. Kelly and I share a similar background in a different lifetime. I was impressed with what he said the weather was like back there. As I told him, it is about time they get some decent weather after what they have been thru. It is raining out here as I write this. It is to continue for most of the day. Doesn't bother me at all. And the weed patch likes it as well. I hope that you and yours have a great Sunday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@jamesburnside3023]

Fantastic Mike have a great evening and week ahead Be safe my friend. Happy Mothers Day to your Mom.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, James; Thanks for dropping by along with the comments today. I appreciate it. Hoping that you and yours have a great Sunday afternoon and evening up there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@davidduffy308]

Good morning Mike. Good visit with Kelly. I thought he was going to move to Albuquerque or am I wrong about that? Weather about the same here. Wishing it would rain all day. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all you gals out there. Have a great day.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, David; I thank you for dialing in along with the comments. That move fell thru. He is happy where he is at for now. The guessers have talked it up enough that it is raining right now. Still dry under the trees though. Might remove some of the bird poo from the pickup. LOL! It is time foe more rain as I can't get the weed roots anymore when I yank a weed. May have to resort to the "Kill 'em dead" stuff in the spray containers. o matter. I hope that you have a great Sunday up there. Take care and stay safe!

[@suzatlarge]

Happy Mothers Day! Thanks for the video, Mike. Take care!

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, suz; Thank you for dropping by and the comments today. Just bring on the rain! No gully washers. Just good soaking rain. Have a great Sunday up there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@ohiofrogman1374]

Hi Mike. Here's wishing your mom a "Happy Mothers Day". Hope she is doing well. Have a great day. Conductor Dave.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Conductor Dave; Thank you for tuning n as well as the comments. I appreciate it. All is well here at the hacienda. The rain continues to fall, and we are liking it. This is a "growing rain". Even the weeds are relishing this rainfall. LOL! I hope that you and yours are having a great Sundy back there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@roberthansen2008]

Well that's nice that the train got there a little ahead of schedule. They can sit there for a minute. You can catch up with Kelly. And looks like a decent enough day out there. I hear some birds in the background. Happy mother's Day.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Robert; Thank you for dropping by and the comments. They were early at McCook well. Must be something about the slow orders between there and here. LOL! It is decent as it is raining on my wee little head right now. Well. at least outside. It was a decent chat today. We share a background in a different lifetime. Yep. Even the birds were happy for the rain. The birdbaths have been dry for a while. Anyway, have a great Sunday back there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@kennywiesemann4959]

Good morning Mike have a great day and God Bless you

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Kenny; Thank you for tuning in as well as the comments. I appreciate it. Have a great Sunday back there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@carolynsteed3649]

Good afternoon Mike Hope its been a good day Please extend mother's day wishes to your mom Have a blessed day.👋😉🐓🐓

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Carolyn; Thank you for tuning in and the comments today. I appreciate it. Your wishes have been given to mom. Our rain has stopped. Rats! But we may get another shot in about an hour as more moves thru. The birds and the green growing things have really soaked it up. I hope that you have a wonderful afternoon and evening. Please take care and stay safe! 🤓👋👋👍🐦🐦🐓🕊🕊

[@Eolafan1008]

GOOD MORNING everyone (a bit tardy for me today…slept in)…have a safe and fun day!

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Eolafan; Thanks for stopping by even if you are a bit tardy. Never late as far as I'm concerned. Have a great Sunday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@benedmonson3445]

A good 76 sunny morning to you Mike. Have noticed most always the #8 coach is a combo/,luggage car. Does that mean the # of thru passengers in coach does not require any lower level seats? Almost always the unloading and loading there is with #7. Anyway have a good day there & wish any mother you know a Happy Mothers Day. We owe them a lot.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

God afternoon, Ben; Thanks for stopping by along with the comments/question. I know that car is carrying baggage and there are passengers on the upper level. Most of them I have found are long distance travelers (Chicago to California or so). The shorter hops are established in car 7 with the higher capacity of seats. A higher turnover rate. As for the baggage car behind the power, it also has baggage and goods. I hope that you have a great afternoon and evening down there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@danielhutchinson6604]

Could a Zephyr roll through town at 100 MPH today? Them dips and bumps do indicate some lack of local Track Maintenance..... I recall whe the Local Guys would try to keep a certain amount of stability in the infrastructure as a matter of regular scheduling. Railroads simply contract the work of Infrastructure Stability to outside Business interests. The employment of large numbers of Union Track Workers seems to rely on seasonal workers to fill in the amount of effort needed to maintain tracks. I do understand the effects of Telephoto Images to create the appearance of Track defects. I began to shoot Pictures of Rail property in 1968....... That was when we still had some Trains to Ride.....

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Daniel; Thank you for stopping by along with the comments. BNSF owns the ROW thru here. Just as UP owns the ROW the Zephyr uses west of Denver. This is not 100 mph area as there are some east of the Mississippi and the NEC. Freight traffic is limited at 65 mph and passenger trains are limited to 80 mph across this district. Those speeds are set by the host railroad and not AMTRAK. I have ridden on several areas of track that are much worse than the main line thru Fort Morgan. Take a look at CSX rails thru Georgia that the #98 & #99 trains run on along with several NEC AMTRAK trains from the south end of the NEC towards Richmond and beyond. Same holds elsewhere. I have ridden at 100 mph + across stretches of the NEC and yes it was smooth. Kind of. Have you worked on rails at temperatures below zero as they do out here? I have been there and done that. Yes. All the roads bow to "wall street and the bean counters". I am sure the Berkshire/Hathaway and Mr. Buffet would be most interested in your views. I did find them interesting, but you need to address the issues to where it will do the most good. That isn't here. Yes. I have addressed issues to the host railroads and did receive answers in return. Anyway, I hope that you have a great Sunday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@danielhutchinson6604]

@@MikeJensen-jt9yr The Original Zyphr was a spectacular sight. The Roadbed was not so old and worn down. I grew up in a Northern Pacific Yard, after My Grandpa retired. I understand about the Corporations and who gets the Money. I have done my share of Track Tamping and Tie Replacement. I love the colors your Videos present...... I can almost smell the Feedlots. You are doing a good job of creating Art.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

@@danielhutchinson6604 I used to ride the CB&Q portion of the Zephyr which stopped here. Those tracks haven't changed in all those years with the exception of less of them as there was a holding yard for the sugar beet trains that accumulated her for processing at the Great Western Sugar Mill on the north side of town. All of those were torn out in 1968. I have checked with a track geometry spec who has told me the main line exceeds the BNSF standards. I was incorrect about speeds in freight equipment is limited to 55 mph thru here on the main and 12 mph on the passing siding. Nowhere from Lincoln west on any BNSF are there 100 mph speeds allowed on the Powder River division or Heartland Division.

[@danielhutchinson6604]

@@MikeJensen-jt9yr Look up the original Zephyr? That is the train I refer to.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

@@danielhutchinson6604 That original Zephyr was a one of event and the CB&Q Zephyrs that operated across these rails never ran over 90 mph after that event. If you watch the film taken of that Denver-Chicago run, you see this same area and the track geometry has not changed for the main line.

[@charsbob]

Are the P-42s really that smoky, or is it more the effect of the telephoto lens?

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Bob; Thanks for stopping by as well as the question. That isn't my telephoto lens. It is the exhaust emissions from the P42s as they load up. Just like the ALCOs of yore, there is a turbo lag in these constant rpm prime movers. That little ramp to West Stret crossing is putting a load on them as I've been told by a couple of engineers. Hope that answers your question. Please take care and stay safe!

[@charsbob]

@@MikeJensen-jt9yr Thanks! Your answer makes me wonder how Amtrak is going to cope with the requirements of Tier III and IV emissions standards. Or whether they'll get an exception.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

@@charsbob They meet tier 2 and have waivers so far. The ALC42s meet tier 4 but aren't cleared to operate out here yet. I think they would do fine in summer conditions but still have a snow ingestion problem during winter. They had more issues with them on the Empire Builders #7 & 8 again this year. Once they figure out the snow problems, I am sure there will be a push for them on the long-distance trains.

[@johnalder6028]

Do conductors still use Ball watches? Good video. Sounds like a nice day in Fort Morgan ,Colorado

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, John; Thanks for stopping by and the comments. I think Kelly had a Timex Iron Man digital on his wrist and was more in tune with what time was shown on the smart phone. I remember seeing those pocket watches as a child. A neighbor was a retired Rock Island conductor and carried one in retirement. Mr. Coop delighted in showing it to me. For a place that is located in the great American desert, it was a great day with nearly 1 inch of rain before the clouds moved out and the sun shone in the late afternoon. The birds sure seem to enjoy the day. Have a great Monday back there. Please take care and stay safe!