Photo ID: 111018 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 3, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 26 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF BNSF's Valmy coal load consistently runs west in a 3x3 power configuration. The train is stopped in the siding at Rocky, waiting for the afternoon Rocky Mountaineer. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111017 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 3, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9) Arvada, CO 29 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF Perhaps the coal train that most common coal train to make appearances on the Moffat in 2024 is this westbound BNSF coal load. BNSF has a contract with the Valmy power plant in northern Nevada. The coal train loads in the Power River Basin, and then runs over the former Grande from Denver to Salt Lake City. Five years ago, I certainly never thought I'd see a westbound coal load on the Moffat once, let alone on a regular basis! On this afternoon, the coal load stalled out climbing Big Ten due to a power issue. The train backed down into the siding at Rocky. The issue has been resolved, but the train has to wait for the Rocky Mountaineer before continuing west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111007 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 3, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 45 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A "standard" Zephyr consist, including a pair of P42DCs, a baggage car, and seven Superliners, is rolling west of Tunnel on the approach to a clear (green) signal at East Plain. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111006 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 3, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 35 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The morning Zephyr emerges from Tunnel 1 on its journey west, three minutes after being seen in this shot just west of Eisele (Clay) on the other side of CO-72. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111005 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 3, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0) Arvada, CO 33 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Seven minutes after winding around through Little Ten Curve in this shot, the Zephyr is now continuing west out of Eisele and, approaching the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive. In a few minutes, the train will emerge from Tunnel 1 is this shot. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111003 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 3, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS022 (West Eiesle (Clay)) Arvada, CO 34 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The Zephyr, running right on time, just knocked down a clear (green) signal at the west end of Eisele (Clay) on its morning journey west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111002 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 3, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9) Arvada, CO 35 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Can you spot the Zephyr in this shot? While the camera is setup around MP 23.5, the Zephyr is off in the distance at Rocky and Little Ten Curve, about 3 1/2 (rail) miles east. The train will continue west and the next shot, just west of Eisele, can be seen here. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111001 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 1, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 31 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The sun is getting much lower in the western sky earlier in the day as we get closer to the end of the summer. Passengers on the eastbound Zephyr enjoy last afternoon views as the train accelerates into Barbara's Gulch. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111000 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 1, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 33 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak In the rays of the setting sun, you can see a little exhaust kicking up on the Zephyr as the train accelerates a bit, approaching the east end of Rocky where speed limits increase. The westbound oil empty on the siding is starting to accelerate as well, the head end already past west Rocky and out on the main. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110999 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 1, 2024 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) Amtrak With a westbound oil train in the clear in the siding at Rocky, the Zephyr is looking at a clear (green) signal at the west end of Rocky. When Daylight Savings time ends in November, the sun will have set here by the time the eastbound Zephyr arrives, even when it is running right on time. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110998 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 1, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 28 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The Zephyr is creeping along at 10 MPH due to a slow order around Big Ten Curve. The slow order is in place due to the risk of sun kinks in the rails as a result of hot summer temperatures. Granted, at this point, it is only about 80°F (27°C) out. You can just barely see the east end of Rocky and the start of Barbara's Gulch in the top left portion of the image. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110997 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 1, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 41 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak As the Zephyr rounds Big Ten Curve, you can clearly see the roughly 2% grade of the tracks as they descend down from the mountains. Off in the distance, the buildings consisting of the skyline of downtown Denver stand tall. In an hour, give or take, the Zephyr will be amongst those iron giants for its station stop at Denver Union Station. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110996 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 1, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 29 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Most of Eisele (Clay) is cast in the shadows of the mountains at 5:45pm this time of year. However, there are a few sections toward the east end that are still lit, and the head end of the Zephyr enters one such section here. Not the westbound UP oil train in the distance at Little Ten Curve. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110995 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 1, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 30 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A westbound empty oil train, led by an SD70ACe and two ES44ACs pull along the jointed rail of the siding. The house track, which is currently empty, has the derail aligned at the east end. The train will not have long to wait as it is waiting for the eastbound Zephyr. The Zephyr is currently at Plain. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110994 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 1, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 27 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The signal at the east end of Rocky show a Diverging Approach (red over yellow) signal for an approaching westbound oil train. Note the switch, which is bent for the siding. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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