Photo ID: 111123 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9) Arvada, CO 129 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr has a couple of private cars catching a ride on the tail end. The cars spent a couple of days in Denver, but are now ready to continue west to Emeryville. The cars are both Patrick Henry cars. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111100 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Coal Creek (MP 23) Arvada, CO 135 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The two SD70ACes that are trailing on this oil train look a bit dirty on their engineers side, but they are significantly dirtier on the other side! They, along with ES44AC UP 7873 have the duty of taking this empty train to Wash, UT for loading. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111099 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 146 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It is quite impressive watching the energy transition from coal to oil on the Moffat. 20 years ago, the Moffat saw as many as 16-18 coal trains in a 24 hour period. While oil trains have not (yet) become that common, their presence is absolutely increasing. Two years ago, there might be one UP oil train ever two days. Now, there seems to be an average of at least three oil trains every 24 hours. The train pictured is no exception, three UP units leading the train west at Blue Mountain Drive. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111098 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0) Arvada, CO 154 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific UP 7873 leads a westbound oil train around the bend from Eisele (Clay) and toward the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive. Off in the distance, the skyline of Denver stands amidst a sea of trees that, within the next 2 to 4 weeks should turn to fire with fall colors. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111097 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 204 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific In a shot that, at this point, is perhaps rather cliche for the Moffat, three units lead UP's thrice-weekly eastbound manifest across the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive on a pleasant September afternoon. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111096 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Detector (MP 22.6) Arvada, CO 210 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Three units lead a manifest comprised almost exclusively of loaded coal hoppers and covered hoppers through the S-Curves at Coal Creek Canyon and by the hotbox detector at MP 22.6. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111095 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 211 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific I set the location of this shot as Tunnel 1, although Tunnel 1 is technically hidden from view, just around the bend. UP's MGJNY is descending the roughly 2% grade from Tunnel 1 down toward the bridge that crosses CO-72 at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111074 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 198 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This westbound oil train, emerging from Tunnel 1, is ducking just beneath the low hanging clouds on a chilly September morning, just one day in to the official start of fall. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111073 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Coal Creek (MP 23) Arvada, CO 192 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It is a dreary, drizzly morning and a mere 45°F (7°C) as a westbound empty oil train moves through the cut between MP 22.6 and the base of Coal Creek Canyon. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111072 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 134 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific There is a small platform and a railing for the conductor to hold on to as this oil train makes a reverse move on the main at Rocky. The conductor is ensuring the track behind the track is clear, and that the train has a signal out the east end. After the tail end of the train in on the main just east of Rocky, the conductor will get off the last car and the train will continue to back up without any protection under General Code of Operating Rule 6.6. This rule allows for unprotected reverse movements in CTC when the train will not pass a control point or grade crossing (among other things). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111071 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 126 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The conductor of this westbound oil train is riding on the last car of the train. The train is currently backing up east through the siding. The switch at the west end of Rocky is broken, and the train will have to back out onto the main and then continue west on the main. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111070 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 160 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr makes its way on the main at Eisele (Clay), a few hundred feet above a westbound UP oil train in the siding at Rocky. Just minutes earlier, the Zephyr was passing by the oil train, heading right-to-left through the frame. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111069 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 161 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak AMTK 187 (Phase 7) approaches a clear (green) signal at the west end of Rocky. The Zephyr is running 1 hour and 15 minutes late this morning. It was a bit behind schedule when it approached Denver from the east, but encountered an additional delay as there was a minor derailment of a BNSF train in the yard in Denver. Only one truck was derailed, and no cars were overturned. But the derailment temporarily block Amtrak's route into the station. Now, it is overtaking a UP oil train in the siding. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111068 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 122 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This is definitely a unit that could stand not only a wash, but a full on repaint. At least the unit is operable, an issue that a lot of UP units has been facing lately. It is the third unit on westbound oil train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111067 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 132 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It is a crystal clear, blue sky morning as an ES44AC sits on the siding near the west end of Rocky. The paint on this unit is a bit spotty, but it is nice to see the American flag itself in pretty good shape. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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