The paint on UP 6397 has certainly seen some better days as the unit crosses over East Portal Road roughly halfway between the west switch of Tolland and the east switch of East Portal. About 20 years ago, there were rumors that Union Pacific was considering a project to connect Tolland and East Portal. However, if any such project was ever seriously considered, it was dropped with the economic bubble, and start in the downturn of coal, in 2008.
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Not too far west of the west switch of Tolland, UP 6397 and train pass through the high/wide detector at MP 48. The wire surrounding the tracks on the detector is just slightly smaller than the smallest bore of any tunnel between here at Denver. If any loads have shifted, causing something to stick out of the train, better to break a wire than hit a tunnel wall.
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The deciduous trees here at Tolland are some late-bloomers. I was up here about a month earlier in May, and all these trees were still devoid of leaves. However, thanks to a relatively wet spring, they are now as green as you can get, filled with leaves as this westbound coal empty passes by at the west end of Tolland. Note the classic yellow and green Tolland school house on the left side of the frame.
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I was hoping for some direct sunlight here, east of Tolland, as this coal empty crosses over South Boulder Creek. However, in retrospect, the overcast skies to the west probably helped the shot as the sun might have created some odd shadows from this perspective. The train crosses South Boulder Creek to run parallel to East Portal Road for a few thousand feet on the approach to Tolland.
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At roughly 8,700 feet (2650 meters) above sea level, four units lead this westbound coal empty along South Boulder Creek between Rollins and Tolland. East Portal Road (also referred to as Tolland Road on some maps and in some places) is a well-maintained dirt road that carries a lot of vehicular traffic. Fishers, campers, hikers, and off-roaders all come up here to the high country, in addition to the handful of railfans.
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A little bit of sun breaks through the clouds as the Rocky Mountaineer approach a clear (green) signal at the west switch of Rollins. The tracks exist the narrow canyon just west of Rollins, and the scene opens into a bit of a valley with quite a few deciduous trees, creating a very pleasant scene.
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Under mostly cloudy skies on one of the longest days of the year, the Rocky Mountaineer rolls east on the single main track along South Boulder Creek (and East Portal Road) between Rollins and Tolland.
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After a couple trips with RMRX 8600, the blue SD40M-2 leaser, it is great to see both Rocky Mountaineer geeps back on the train as it emerges from the shortest tunnel in the Tunnel District, Tunnel 29. The great light would not last as some major thunderstorms are building and will move it from the west soon.
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RMRX 8021 and RMRX 8020 lead the eastbound Rocky Mountaineer through a sea of deciduous trees, lining both sides of the tracks near the west switch of Tolland. Come September, these trees should be burning in beautify fall gold.
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After meeting the California Zephyr at Winter Park, and then waiting for the Moffat Tunnel to vent, it was the Rocky Mountaineer's turn to head east. Ten minutes before 3pm, the train crosses over East Portal Road and South Boulder Creek as it heads toward Tolland. The Continental Divide still has plenty of patches of snow on it, despite the fact we are now officially into summer.
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In the Valley where the Moffat Tunnel is located, we see the westbound Zephyr, running about three hours late, on the main track at East Portal. The train is just about to knock down a clear (green) signal, and dive into 6.2 miles of darkness, passing underneath the Continental Divide at roughly 9,200 feet above sea level.
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Between Tolland and the bridge over East Portal Road, the tracks seem to run through a long valley of trees. This evening, an hour late Zephyr is running through a slow order on the approach to Tolland.
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AMTK 18 and AMTK 147 lead the eastbound Zephyr across East Portal Road on the single track main between East Portal and Tolland. The sun is trying to press through the clouds around the Continental Divide in the distance.
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NS 4130 and a pair of BNSF SD70ACes cross over South Boulder Creek just east of Tolland. In the distance, you can see a few of the mountains around James Peak and the Continental Divide.
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This spring has been unusually wet and cool, the result of which has been some absolutely spectacular green scenery! Case-in-point is this view of an eastbound BNSF oil train, led by an NS AC44C6M, at the east switch of East Portal.
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