The head end of this eastbound oil train is out of Tolland. If you look back in the distance, you can see a single UP SD70ACe-T4 bringing up the tail end of the train. Further in the distance, on the mountain side, you can see the route the tracks once took, prior to the Moffat Tunnel, that ran up and over Rollins Pass.
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An eastbound UP oil train is dwarfed by the Continental Divide and the clouds that are trying to blow over the top of it. The train is on the main at Tolland, just passing through the clear (green) signal at the east end.
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The westbound Zephyr rolls through a fantastic winter scene in the Colorado high country. A pair of P42DCs lead the westbound Zephyr across the road to the Moffat Tunnel between Tolland and East Portal.
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The westbound Zephyr is approaching a clear (green) signal at the west end of East Portal. For many decades, trains could not get a signal more favorable that an approach (yellow) going in to the tunnel. However, when UP replaced the signals on the Moffat, a change was made and clear (green) signals are now available heading in to the 6.2 mile-long tunnel.
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As we approach the shortest day of the year, the sun has moved far to the south. Consequently, half the valley the Moffat Tunnel is located in is now cast in day-long shadows. The rails the Zephyr is located on here will not see sunlight again until spring.
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On a cold, quiet, clear November morning, the westbound Zephyr is rolling west on the main at East Portal. It is mere seconds away from entering into the Moffat Tunnel and moving to the west side of the Continental Divide.
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It is 28°F as the on-time westbound Zephyr approaches a clear (green) signal at the east end of East Portal. Snow is covering the landscape and will likely remain in many places now until next spring.
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AMTK 138 and AMTK 43 lead an on time westbound Zephyr across East Portal Road just over a mile east of the Moffat Tunnel. This spot is a pretty cool location as the tracks cross over the road, which crosses over South Boulder Creek, changing the location of all three!
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Fall colors are in full force here at Tolland, just shy of 9,000 feet above sea level, as the westbound Zephyr rolls through the scene precisely on time. Between the upcoming decreasing temperatures and strong winds common to the area, the leaves will not be on the trees for much longer.
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Even though there is no train in the scene, this is still one of my favorite pictures from 2023. Heck, this is probably in the top 10 of my favorite shots of all time. The fall colors, the sun, and the lingering morning mist creates an absolutely perfect scene.
An AC4400CW, still in Heritage 2 paint, brings up the tail end of a westbound loaded coal train as it dives into the 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel. 100 years ago, construction on the tunnel had started!
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At 7:22am, the sun has just started to light the valley in which the Moffat Tunnel is located. While this looks like it could possibly be an eastbound BNSF coal load, it is actually a westbound load with a trio of DPUs bringing up the rear. The train is diving in to the Moffat Tunnel, ultimately headed for Valmy, NV. The dawning sun also illuminates the fall colors, still showing bright on October 2.
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BNSF recently picked up a contract to deliver Power River Basin coal to Valmy, NV. The loaded coal trains run west over the Moffat. They run with three units on the head end and three units on the tail end. Here, the three DPUs have found morning sun as they disappear toward the west end of Tolland.
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Fall colors are in full force nearly 9,000 feet above sea level as three elephant-style BNSF units lead a coal train toward the Moffat Tunnel a few minutes after 7am.
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The sun has not yet peeked over the mountain here at Tolland, but it is definitely up and it is definitely lighting up the clouds to the east. Meanwhile, a BNSF coal load runs on the main amidst fantastic fall colors.
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