Coal has been making a little bit of a resurgence on the Moffat recently. Just in the last week, the number of coal trains has increased. The previous three days, I've seen at least one coal train per day. Such is the case with this eastbound load, cutting through Arvada just east of Leyden.
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The head end of this unit oil train is coming off of Big Ten and approaching a clear (green) signal at East Eisele (Clay). The crew can look over to the right and catch the tail end of the train, still on the rise up from Rocky.
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UP has been running far more trains on the Moffat lately than in many years. This westbound oil empty is an example of the most common type of train UP runs these days. There are, on average, at least 1-2 oil trains on the Moffat each 24 hours these days.
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Took this particular shot in order to highlight UP 2311. This SD60M was built by EMD and delivered to UP in May 1989 as UP 6156. It has three window panes on the front of the cab, which earned such units the nickname "Tri-clops". The unit is not powered on this train, and it is in fact headed for long term storage in Grand Junction.
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Even though all seven units on the point of this westbound oil train are UP, it is still something of rainbow of schemes as the schemes cover a myriad of eras as well as varying degrees of upkeep. The fourth unit is an SD70ACe sporting the newest scheme, while sixth is an SD60M wearing a pre-SP merger paint scheme.
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A westbound oil empty, with seven units (not all loading) on the head end, heads through Little Ten Curve and out of the west end of Rocky.
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A westbound oil train passes underneath Colorado Highway 93 as it snakes its way through Barbara's Gulch. The head end is approaching a clear (green) signal at the east end of Rocky.
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Just west of Tunnel 1, the Zephyr heads west through a chilly and rather gloomy scene on an overcast December 1.
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At the base of Coal Creek Canyon, the westbound Zephyr wraps around the sweeping 180° curve so it can climb the 2% grade up to Tunnel. It will then make a turn to the north, run through Plain, and then start west through the Tunnel District.
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Just west of the west switch of Leyden, the westbound Zephyr is about 10 minutes late as it hustles west, trying to make up time if possible.
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The West Local has a pair of GP40-2s for power this Wednesday afternoon, taking four covered hoppers from the Rocky Flats Industrial Lead back to North Yard. UP 1507 was once SP 7129 and UP 1344 was once DRGW 3121. The train is passing by Oberon Lake Number 1, which is hidden from view (by the track) for those driving on Oberon Road in the foreground.
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The West Local is returning from Rocky (and the Rocky Flats Industrial Lead) back to North Yard. It is currently in the heart of western Arvada. The flatirons of the front range of the Rockies rise in the background. Further back to the right, Longs Peak is snow-covered.
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An eastbound coal empty rolls east out of Rocky on a clear (green) signal, ready to dive in to Barbara's Gulch. A nice pair of matched SD70ACes lead the train.
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Two units are in charge of this eastbound coal empty at Rocky. And yes, it is indeed a coal empty heading east! The 100 coal cars had been stored somewhere on the ex-DRGW.
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A pair of SD70ACes leads an empty coal train east through Little Ten Curve at Rocky. The train met the Zephyr at Crescent and a westbound coal empty at Plain. It now has clear (green) signals the rest of the way in to Denver.
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