Fall has descended on the Colorado high country, when some fantastic yellows up at the Moffat Tunnel, around 9,000 feet above sea level. There is a work train currently tied down (without power) in the siding. UP in investing a lot of time and money into maintenance for the Moffat in the coming months, including fresh ballast and many new ties.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Rocky Mountaineer is running west through the siding at Cliff, meeting a BNSF oil train that is on the main. DS-378 is keeping the oil train on the main to help it keep its speed up after the meet. The crew has less than two hours left on the clock. At this point, it is not clear if the train will be able to make it in to Denver or not.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Lighting is not the best, but the westbound Rocky Mountaineer has taken the siding at Cliff to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It can be a bit of a challenge getting shots in the area around West Cliff as it is on the north side of a mountain and, as such, almost always cast in shadows. However, this shot of an eastbound BNSF oil train turned out quite well.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
BNSF 5830 leads a unit oil train across the South Beaver Creek Road grade crossing about a half mile west of Cliff. This road leads from CO-72 to Pacolus, a private neighborhood along the tracks and South Boulder Creek between Cliff and Rollins.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
In the canyon between Tolland and Rollins, this BNSF oil train is quickly rolling east at track speed. The crew is running short on time, with only two hours left to work. For now, the train is following South Boulder Creek and Tolland Road, trying to get as close to Denver as possible with the time left.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
BNSF 5830 and two additional GEs lead an eastbound loaded oil train across South Boulder Creek about a mile east of the east switch of Tolland. You could not ask for a more perfect morning on the last day of August, with barely a cloud in the sky. The peaks in the distance are the Continental Divide, which the Moffat Tunnel runs beneath.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr has taken the siding at Tolland to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train, which is holding the main. In the distance, peaks of the Continental Divide extend above 12,000 feet above sea level, taking the tops above timber line.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The passengers on the Northern Sky are getting a first class view of the Colorado high country. You can see a handful of them hanging out in the vista dome in the private car.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
AMTK 207 leads an on-time westbound Zephyr across South Boulder Creek, just east of Tolland. The train will be taking the siding at Tolland to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train, which is already waiting on the main. The Zephyr will be taking the siding as DS-378 is trying to keep the oil train moving as it's crew is short on time.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
I found this perspective about a week earlier, and wanted to give it another try with the Zephyr. The train is right on time as it passes west on the main at Rollins. With a keen eye, you might note that there is a private car on the end of the train this morning.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A look at the Rocky Mountaineer in the siding at Rollins from the north side of the rails, just before the train passes underneath the "Peak-to-Peak" highway, CO-119.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
RMRX 8020 and RMRX 8021 both spit out a blast of exhaust as the engineer increases the throttle by a notch. The train has cleared the east switch of Rollins, and is now running west through the 8,320-foot long siding. The sun glints off South Boulder Creek to the right.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Exiting from the extremely narrow canyon just east of Rollins, the westbound Rocky Mountaineer enters into the siding at Rollins. UP had some track and time on the main track at Rollins, so the mornings trains were routed in and out of the siding.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is approaching Tunnel 30, the final tunnel the train will pass through prior to reaching the Moffat Tunnel. There are not a lot of shots from the Tunnel 30 area, as it is remote and isolated from the other tunnels between Denver and the Moffat Tunnel.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
