The Calif. Zephyr in Ft. Morgan on 23JUNE2024

This California Zephyr #5 arrived in Fort Morgan at 0546 MDT (On Schedule). Powering the 8-car consist were P42s #170 and #176 (I said 177 in the video, but it is 176). They brought the train to a single spot - two car passenger service with 2 new patrons to car 3 and 4 new fares to car 7. With the station work safely completed, the high ball was given and on a clear signal the Zephyr rolled west toward its next stop at Union Station in Denver.
My thanks, as always, to the operating crew and the passengers in the sightseer/lounge for the waves and greetings.
Everyone please stay safe!
Yes. There was an east bound rail train setting on the siding. It cleared the siding after the Zephyr stopped at the depot.
Temp. 56 F. Feels like 56 F.
Expected high temp of 96 F.
No rain.

[@Mr36Bennett]

Hi Mr. Mike looking good as always. Thanks again for coming out. Darrell

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good evening, Darrell; Thanks for dialing in as well as the comments. I appreciate it very much. Please take car and stay safe!

[@louGriggs1944]

Thanks MIke. Have a great day.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Lou; Thanks for looking un and the comment. I appreciate it. Please take care and stay safe!

[@roberthansen2008]

Yeah that moon looked really nice up there. I'm glad you got it.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Thanks!

[@jimueberroth3144]

Good Morning!! Sounds like extra birds and certainly more riders today. A great day in Fort Morgan. Have a wonderful day, Mike. Stay Safe.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Jim; I thank you for stopping by as well as the comments. I think the nests are emptying out and fledglings are getting some flight time in as well as singing lessons. It has started but very nice, but the thermometer is displaying higher temperatures by the minute. Have been closing windows to keep the cool in and the hot out. Maybe the A/C won't cycle too much today. I hope that you have a great Sunday. Please take care, stay cool, and safe!

[@danboyd8686]

Good morning Mike. Another efficient stop on a fine morning. I know the risk is low, but I too think highball shouldn’t be given before conductor is on board. Old safety training kicking in I suppose. Anyway thanks, enjoy your Sunday and stay well. And don’t put your truck in gear until you are behind the wheel lol.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Dan; I thank you for stopping by along with the comments. It looks as though a lot of us are thinking the same about where the lead conductor was when he gave the high ball. Having spent 23 years in the navy and always working with and for safety on board then another 20 years with a private concern conducting safety training on a daily basis, yes. I would say that he should have been on board but there are always unseen reasons for doing it from the platform. while at the door. At least someone else was driving today. Hope that you have a great Sunday afternoon and evening. Please take care, stay cool, and safe!

[@mikecarrington4297]

Good morning Mike! Another great upload

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

God morning, Mike; Thank you for dropping by and the comments. I appreciate it. Please take care, stay cool, and safe!

[@marksmith4582]

Good Sunday morning Mike! Wow a beautiful morning out there! It is here as well at 07:29 AM Iowa time! An easy loading of passengers and on their way into Denver. Hope your weather is pleasant there! It will be in the mid-80’s here today! Have a great Sunday yourself Sir! I definitely am out here! Mark in Iowa!

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Mark; Thank you for tuning in as well as the comments. It has hit 74 F. already and I'm closing windows to trap the cool air before the hot hits. No cloud activity here at all yet. I'd saddle up and come back your direction to partake in the 80s but you all keep hanging on to all that humidity. LOL! Thanks, but I'll pass on that stuff. LOL! Have a great Sunday back there. Please take care. stay cool, and safe!

[@roberthansen2008]

Yeah Mike I'm catching your video pretty late. Been kind of a busy day out here in beemer Nebraska West point Nebraska. The little town here had a community meal at the local American legion Hall. They had pork burgers hamburgers good old-fashioned baked beans macaroni salad and ice cream for dessert. Can't beat that. So then this morning we went to Zion Lutheran Church near Bancroft and they had a big spread. I guess that place turned 150 years old. And they had one of those old school country churches. You know the big tall white church. But I just started watching your video and I'll read the notes about the zephyr and how it got in and everything like that.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Robert; Thank you for tuning in along with the comments. That is one of the charms of small town and rural America. The community picnics and get togethers. Just doesn't happen anywhere else. Many of the communities in eastern Nebraska are well known for those type of events. And the food is always yummy. Sounds like fun! Anyway, have a great Monday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@geraldjones8032]

Good morning Mike. You are fast this morning. Nice to see people getting on the train. Looks like a nice day. Nice in Albuquerque this morning. I see a train on the siding. You have a great day.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Gerald; Thanks for dropping by as well as the comments. I'm not too sure about the "fast" part. LOL! The parking area is near to overflowing with passenger's vehicles. That is a good thing for here. It was nice to see that large family group board today as well. Our temp. has risen past 74 F. and nary a cloud to be seen so far. I'll be closing windows very soon to trap the cooler air prior to the hot coming this way. Keeps the A/C from cycling up too soon. Have a great Sunday down there. Please take care, stay cool, and safe!

[@kenclifford5556]

good morning Mike thanks for the catch of #5 today. i hope you have a great day and a safe one.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Ken; Thanks for stopping by along with the comments. I hope that you are staying cool back there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@jeanmccallum3546]

Good Morning Mike! Happy Sunday... Nice catch of #5 today! That coat looked huge on the sleeper conductor! Also!! I wish they would be on the train BEFORE they tell them to highball. It's a Mom thing, I guess, but I did read about a female conductor who fell and died, a few years ago. My mind sees that scenario. I'm betting the engineers are probably watching too. Beautiful moon! 🩷🩷🩷 Jean

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, Jean; Thank you for dialing in along with the comments. It has been nice so far. That won't last too much longer with the temp climbing like a SpaceX rocket. Have closed windows after having them open overnight. Time to trap the cool and keep the hot outside. Joe buys uniforms off the rack. LOL! I was surprised that he had it on. I am of the age that I do the same anymore. LOL!! I do understand about being on board prior. There are several that give the high ball while still on the ground. I am sure the engineer is checking the rearview mirror before advancing the stick. I too recall that incident some time ago. Anyway, I hope that you are drying out back there. I have been tracking the levee break and flooding at Rock Valley along with the BNSF derailment near there. Has been a wet one for nearly the entire state of Iowa. Please take care, stay cool, and safe!

[@kennywiesemann4959]

Good morning Mike have a great day.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Kenny; Thanks for dialing in and the comment. I appreciate it. Please take care, stay cool, and safe!

[@johnalder6028]

Zephyr #5 on time and all is well

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good morning, John; I thank you for stopping by and the comments. Their on-time percentage is moving upwards and then they have an "Oh Shoot". Oh well. Such is life. I hope that you have a great Monday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@jaymichaels6170]

Looks like a work train on the other set of tracks

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Jay; Thank you for dropping by as well as the comments. Yep. That was an east bound rail train. It took the main after the Zephyr was at the station headed farther east toward Brush Junction and form there I know not where. Have a great afternoon and evening. Please take care and stay safe!

[@paulchappell]

Good morning! Those birds are chirping quite a storm. Is there ever a risk that a conductor could get left on the platform when, still on the platform, s/he gives the ‘high ball’ instruction to the cab? Just wondering.

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

Good afternoon, Paul; Thank you for dialing in and the comments. It seemed that all of the local songbirds were up and at the depot this morning. As for the lead conductor this morning, I hope the engineer was checking his rearview mirror before he started notching up. But Joe made it onboard step and all. Anyway, I hope that you have a great Sunday afternoon and evening over there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@michaelvankirk7222]

A taxpayer own train you would think it would be high speed but no its always in debt 😢😢😢