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.
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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.
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At Pactolus, in between Cliff and Rollins, the westbound Rocky Mountaineer passes by a small (private) lake and the Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Club.
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UP 4533 crosses over South Boulder Creek just east of Tolland with 10 cars in tow. The Engineering special is checking out the tracks between Denver and Grand Junction today, and will continue west through the desert and over Soldier Summit tomorrow, in to Salt Lake City.
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Since entering the drone era, I have really enjoyed exploring parts of the canyon between Rollins and Tolland. In this shot, a UP engineering special, led by a single SD70M, heads west through the canyon under partly cloudy skies.
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A UP engineering special rolls west through the siding at Rollins, high in the Colorado Rockies. The special will make it to Grand Junction today, and will continue west to Salt Lake City tomorrow. In the distance, you can see some low-level clouds hanging out on the plains.
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The Amtrak Cascades AIRO trainset is a pretty nice looking trainset! This is a brand new trainset, built by Siemens, that is set to enter into service in 2026. The trainset is currently being transported to the Transportation Technology Center (TTC), a railroad testing facility near Pueblo, CO. The train heads east on the main at Tolland in this shot.
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A special Amtrak train, consisting of two P42DCs, three passenger cars, and an Amtrak Cascades AIRO trainset roll east on the main at Tolland. The trainset is headed for the testing facility near Pueblo, CO.
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A special Amtrak train follows about two hours behind the evening California Zephyr. The train is crossing East Portal Road in between East Portal and Tolland.
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From above the building complex of the Moffat Tunnel at East Portal, we see the train as it approaches, passing the switch at the west end of East Portal. The lead unit is passing under a camera bridge. The dispatcher (and others) in Omaha, NE can view many different directions around the tracks here.
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With a green signal and the Moffat Tunnel curtain now open, the train is throttling up quickly toward track speed.
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The Rocky Mountaineer has slowed to a stop on the main at East Portal. Ahead, the Moffat Tunnel is still venting from the Zephyr passing through about 30 minutes ago. Until the tunnel finishes venting, the train will have to wait.
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The Rocky Mountaineer is passing the location where, once upon the time, the tracks curve and started up the major grade of Rollins Pass. Today, the east leg of the wye at East Portal lies on a portion of that original grade.
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The Rocky Mountaineer throttles up on the main at Rolland, and RMRX 8021 kicks up some exhaust in response, as the train faces a flashing yellow (advanced approach) signal at West Tolland.
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After the California Zephyr ran around the Rocky Mountaineer at Rollins, the Mountaineer is now headed west on the main at Tolland. The Zephyr is still in the Moffat Tunnel, so the Mountaineer will have to stop for a few minutes at East Portal.
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