I'm guessing it isn't too hard to figure out where this picture was taken! We are just about to dive into the east portal of the 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel.
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A lot of things have changed in this shot in the last fifteen years. The milepost sign has changed. The signal has been replaced (note the new LED lights). There is a new camera bridge in front of the tunnel. However, this westbound is charging into the bore as countless other westbounds have for years, and hopefully will for years to come.
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It's about time to bid a fond farewell to the MNYGJ. The train has an approach diverging as it heads into the Moffat Tunnel. At Winter Park, the train will take the siding to meet an eastbound coal load.
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Three of the eight units here are pulling hard on this westbound coal empty toward the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel. The train has a "double yellow" (approach diverging) signal entering the tunnel, indicating to the train that they will be taking the siding at Winter Park.
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This westbound coal empty is making track speed as it prepares to enter the Moffat Tunnel. It is a beautiful September day and there are some aspens weaving in and out of the pine trees in the distance.
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The addition of new block signals at the west end of East Portal allow for this situation. The MNYGJ is about to enter the Moffat Tunnel with a double yellow (Approach Diverging). This tells the crew that they will be taking the siding at Winter Park, most likely for a meet.
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We are pretty close to the highest point on any active mainline (non-excursion) in the United States! The Moffat Tunnel Sub peaks out (pardon the pun) at 9,242 feet above sea level inside the tunnel. Here, the MNYGJ is on the mainline approaching the east portal of the tunnel.
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A coal empty enters the block at East Portal, passing signals that are less than a month old. The new eastbound signals have two heads, allowing for eastbound trains to received a yellow over yellow (Approach Diverging) aspect for when they are taking the siding at Tolland.
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Union Pacific recently replaced the old Rio Grande signals at East Portal, putting in new LED signals! Note that westbounds can now received a yellow over yellow (Approach Diverging) to inform the crew that they will be taking the siding at Winter Park.
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Strong winds are blowing the clouds all over the place...enough so that a patch of blue sky breaks free down on the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel and a Snow Bus, waiting for a signal to proceed west.
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UP's Snow Bus is approaching the Moffat Tunnel with a red signal ahead. The train has been following Amtrak very closely and the tunnel must finish venting before the Snow Bus can follow.
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The eastbound California Zephyr pops out of the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel in the late afternoon. For the first time in nearly four years, one of the Heritage Units runs on an Amtrak train.
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About 25 seconds after I snapped this picture, the clouds (of course) parted and a wonderful ray of sun splashed all over this spot. However, even without the light, this ES44AC looks pretty good on the point of the MNYPV. Following the new GEVO is an SD70ACe and an AC6000CW...an impressive power lineup.
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On the last official day of summer, the aspen trees above 9,000 feet - at the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel - are at their absolutely peak as far as their fall colors go. The power here is the end DPU power on a westbound coal empty plunging into the Moffat Tunnel.
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A nice looking C44AC-CTE leads a coal empty past trees that are nearing their fall color peaks. Another week to 10 days for some of them, while others are right at their peak. The train is a few hundred feet away from the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel.
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