ColoradoRailfan.com » Photo Gallery » Photo Search » View Photos

Next Page

Photo ID: 113602
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Arvada to Leyden (MP 7.5 to MP 11.9)
Arvada, CO
30
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
A C44ACM, sporting some fresh paint in UP's latest scheme, and a Tier-4 SD70ACe-T4, bring up the tail end of an eastbound coal train. The train is running 2x3x2. Traditionally, coal load have run 2x3x1, so there is one extra unit on the tail end. Not sure if one will be removed in Denver along with the mid-train swing helpers. The two DPUs here are passing by Oberon Lake Number 1 in the midst of the suburb of Arvada.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113601
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Arvada to Leyden (MP 7.5 to MP 11.9)
Arvada, CO
32
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Three GEs are serving as the mid-train swing helpers on this eastbound coal load. Coal trains have increased slightly on the Moffat in the past few months. It seems that UP has picked up a few new contracts for West Elk coal from the North Fork branch.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113600
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Arvada to Leyden (MP 7.5 to MP 11.9)
Arvada, CO
31
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
CSX 1981 and CSX 5477 are a pretty unusual site here in Colorado! CSX 1981 is the Pan Am Railways heritage unit. Pan Am Railways was a New England railroad purchased by CSX in 2022. After arriving in Denver, the mid-train swing helpers will be cut out, and the train will continue east on the Limon Sub.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113599
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Kipling (MP 9.8)
Arvada, CO
27
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
CSX 1981 led an 11,500-foot westbound coal empty on Monday. Two days later, CSX 1981 is once again leading on the Moffat! This time, it and a sister CSX unit lead half of that 11,500-foot coal train east across Kipling Street in Arvada. Longs Peak, one of the 14ers (mountain peaks that exceed 14,000-feet in elevation) is clearly visible in the distance to the right.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113598
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
80th Avenue (MP 11.75)
Arvada, CO
32
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Three units, a pair of SD70ACes with an ES44AC splice in between, are all elephant style on the MGJNY as it rolls east out the east end of Leyden and across the 80th Avenue grade crossing.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113597
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Leyden (7,020ft)
Arvada, CO
31
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
UP's MGJNY can often been found headed east on the Moffat on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. This Wednesday morning was a great example, as the thrice-weekly manifest heads east on the main track at Leyden.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113594
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
35
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
This is the longest train I've ever personally seen on the Moffat. The train is effectively two coal empties stuck together into one. Behind the three lead units (including a pair of CSX ES44AHs) is 105 cars. Then, there are three mid-train DPUs (hidden behind the hill at Big Ten). Behind those three mid-train DPUs is another 104 cars. The train is 11,500 feet long. When the head end reaches East Plain, the tail end will just be passing West Eisele (Clay)! At that length, there are only two sidings between Denver and Grand Junction in which the train could fit between switches: Allen in Glenwood Canyon (at 14,250 feet), and Palisade just east of Grand Junction (at 12,200 feet).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113593
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
35
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Three mid-train swing helpers, including a Tier-4 SD70ACe-T4, are roughly 105 cars deep in a 209 car coal empty that is making its way west to Grand Junction. The train is basically two coal trains combined, and they will split in Grand Junction, running to the mine at West Elk individually.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113592
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
39
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
A trio of elephant-style GEs, including CSX 1981 (on the point), lead the longest train on the Moffat that I've ever personally seen. The train is 11,500 feet long! Basically, two coal trains combined into one. 209 cars, three units on the point, three mid-train swing helpers.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113591
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rocky (7,330ft)
Arvada, CO
29
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
Alas, the clouds were out in force this morning, so the shutter speed was a bit low on this telephoto shot of CSX 1981, the Pan Am Railways heritage unit, lead a westbound coal empty at Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113590
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rocky (7,330ft)
Arvada, CO
32
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
A bit of a surprise on the Moffat this morning, as a pair of CSX units (and a UP unit) lead a westbound coal empty. Even more surprising was CSX 1981 on the point. Along with Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak, CSX has a "heritage unit" program. The lead unit is the heritage unit for Pan Am Railways.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113589
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
33
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
AMTK 164, the Phase 4 heritage unit, is likely the most common heritage unit to run on the Zephyr (and over the Moffat). I think I've seen this one way more often than the Phase 1 through 3 heritage units. In any case, it is leading the Zephyr west around Big Ten Curve this morning, along with AMTK 23.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113588
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rocky (7,330ft)
Arvada, CO
34
(1 Comment Posted)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr just passed by some maintenance equipment in the siding and house track at Rocky. The Zephyr is about 25 minutes late this morning. UP's yard transfer between BNSF's 31st Street Yard and UP's North Yard was temporarily blocking the Zephyr down at Prospect Jct.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113587
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, March 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rocky (7,330ft)
Arvada, CO
35
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF
A couple of track maintainers are prepping a track regulator in the house track at Rocky, getting ready to do some work today. Meanwhile, the last train for the next several hours, BNSF's Provo-Denver, rolls by eastbound on the main track.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113586
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, March 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
29
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF
One of those times when the shot worked out just perfect! As the head end of the Provo-Denver approaches the west switch of Rocky, a pair of DPUs are coming around the east edge of Big Ten Loop on the tail end of the train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Next Page

Check out ColoradoRailfan.com on Facebook
Check out the latest ColoradoRailfan.com photos on Flickr

ColoradoRailfan.com Email Subscription
To receive updates made to ColoradoRailfan.com via Email, Click Here.

The D&RGW Site Ring
This site owned by: Kevin Morgan
Add Your Site

SiteRing by Bravenet.com

SiteRing by Bravenet.com

All content ©2000,2026 by Kevin Morgan, except where noted. Please do not use any material from this site without permission. Thank You.