Photo ID: 112796 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 275 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112795 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Gilpin County, CO 283 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112794 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Gilpin County, CO 278 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112793 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 361 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The Zephyr heads west on the main at East Portal, heading for clear (green) signal at the west end, as it heads into the 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel. Fun fact, eastbound trains at Winter Park almost never receive a green signal, but rather a yellow when departing Winter Park eastbound. This is because, in nearly every circumstance, the Moffat Tunnel curtain (for ventilating) is closed when the train first enters the tunnel. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112792 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 316 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak This Amtrak car, named Pacific Bend, was originally by the Budd company in 1950 for Union Pacific. It was transferred to Amtrak as part of passenger equipment transfer in the early 1970s with the formation of Amtrak. Most recently, the car has served as a dorm car for Amtrak crews, as well as part of Amtrak Exhibit train several years ago. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112791 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 319 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak This is an Amtrak Metroliner (Amfleet) car, primarily used in the Northeast, along the Northeast Corridor. These types of cars, which are a single level, are designed to fit through the relatively tight tunnels in the New York City area, specifically. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112790 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 342 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak This is an Amtrak Viewliner 2 car, order about 10 years ago. This particular version is a Baggage/Dorm car. It is a single level car used primarily on trains east of Chicago. It is headed west on the Zephyr, for reasons unknown. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112789 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 370 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A pair of P42DCs leads the Zephyr westbound on the approach to East Portal. There were rumors about 20 years ago that Amtrak was going to add a second main track through here, connection East Portal and Tolland. With the downturn in coal traffic, that possibility has become something for the "ideas never implemented" book. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112788 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 342 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak At over 9,000 feet above sea level, the westbound Zephyr is just around the corner from the east switch of East Portal, where a clear (green) signal awaits it. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112678 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 27, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 370 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112677 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 27, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Detector (MP 48.0) Gilpin County, CO 298 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112676 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 27, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Gilpin County, CO 341 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112675 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 27, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins to Tolland (MP 41.2 to MP 45.8) Gilpin County, CO 357 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112674 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 27, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins to Tolland (MP 41.2 to MP 45.8) Gilpin County, CO 345 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112670 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 27, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins to Tolland (MP 41.2 to MP 45.8) Gilpin County, CO 319 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer 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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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