In between Tolland and East Portal, the westbound Rocky Mountaineer approaches the east end of East Portal. PTC has finally been installed in RMRX 8600, a lease SD40-2 (in an SD45 car body). It along with one of the GP40-3s lead the train west. In the distance, you can see a westbound empty oil train in the siding at Tolland. After the tunnel vents, it will be its turn to head west.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Near the west end of Tolland, deciduous trees line both sides of the rails (the main and the siding). As the westbound Zephyr has just overtaken a UP oil can (out of view behind the curve) and is approach a clear (green) signal at the west end as it passes by trees that are at their peak fall colors. If you wonder why Rio Grande used "Aspen Gold" as its main color, this shot says it all!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
In this 400mm shot of a westbound oil empty, stopped in the siding at Tolland, you can easily identify which track is the main and which is the siding. The main has continuous welded rail, while the siding still has joints every 66 feet (roughly). The train is stopped to allow both the morning Zephyr and the Rocky Mountaineer to pass. The Zephyr is only about 15 minutes away.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A hint of frost holds on to the tips of the evergreen trees in the midst of a sea of yellow. Just as fall is officially starting, temperatures in the high country got below freezing last night, leaving some snow on the ground. However, the ground and even air this morning is warm enough that most traces of the snow are gone as a westbound oil empty comes to a stop in the siding of Tolland.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP 7346 crosses over South Boulder Creek just around the bend from the east end of Tolland. The train will be facing a Diverging Approach (red over yellow), going in to the siding at Tolland. The smattering of deciduous trees makeup a beautiful scene as fall colors reach their peak.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Fall colors have pretty well reached their peak above 8,000 feet, and the trees in the canyon between Rollins and Tolland are no exception. Five units lead an oil empty along South Boulder Creek. The train will be going into the siding at Tolland to let the westbound Zephyr and the Rocky Mountaineer pass.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The rain is still lightly falling after a night of freezing temperatures and consistent rain. Five units lead a westbound oil empty as it approaches a clear signal at the west end of Cliff.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Afternoon light in September is perfect for eastbound coming out of Tunnel 29, a trio of AC4400CWs lead a unit oil train east, heading into the Tunnel District.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The valley between Rollins and Tolland is a somewhat undershot portion of the Moffat, but it has absolutely fantastic scenes if you can find the right perspective. Here, an eastbound loaded oil train, with a trio of AC4400CWs on the point, roll east alongside South Boulder Creek.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Along South Boulder Creek and Tolland Road, an eastbound loaded oil train slowly descends the grade in the valley between Rollins and Tolland.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A quartet of GEs leads an eastbound oil train across the bridge at MP 45.2, moving from the south side to the north side of South Boulder Creek. Three of the four units on the head end are slightly older AC4400CWs, with a single ES44AC in the consist, second out. In the distance, you can see the top of the Continental Divide.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Not too far east of the east switch of Tolland, a loaded UP oil train is leaving the Continental Divide behind, running between Tolland Road and South Boulder Creek. Clouds are starting to move in over the divide as rain is expected later in the day.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The lounge car, along with the rest of the westbound Zephyr, is about to pass underneath the Continental Divide. What you may not know, is that the actually bore in the mountain is still above 500 feet ahead of the lounge car in this shot. There is a significant structure that houses the equipment for ventilating the tunnel.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Passenger on the westbound Zephyr prepare for about 12 minutes of darkness as the train gets ready to plunge in to the 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel. The train is passing underneath a small signal bridge that actually holds several cameras that UP can monitor from Omaha.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
AMTK 71 and AMTK 142 peek through pine trees lining South Boulder Creek. The train is facing a red signal as it waits for the Moffat Tunnel to finish venting after an eastbound BNSF manifest exited about 20 minutes earlier.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
