After checking for a potential hotbox on the train, the conductor is back on board the head end. With the Zephyr a couple blocks ahead, the train has received a signal to continue west.
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Passengers aboard the Zephyr are no doubt really enjoying the trip west this morning! Fall colors are about their peak brilliance as the Zephyr charges west toward a green signal at the east end of Tolland. There is barely a cloud in the sky this morning. Couldn't ask for better conditions.
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Running right on schedule, the westbound Zephyr follows along South Boulder Creek, the head actually crossing over the creek here between Rollins and Tolland. Fall colors above 8,000 feet or so are really reaching their peak.
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This westbound oil empty is stopped on the main at Rollins. The train tripped the hotbox detector at MP 39.2. Consequently, the conductor is inspecting the car that reported the hotbox, car 87. He has actually completed his inspection and found nothing wrong. He is walking back up to the head end. The Zephyr is not too far away, and will run around the oil train through the siding.
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A UP coal load wraps around one of the last curves in the narrow part of the valley leading up to the west end of Rollins. The fall colors around Rollins are really hitting their peak.
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This UP coal load is about to cross Tolland Road at the grade crossing near the east switch of East Portal. If you look off in the distance, you can actually see the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel.
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A UP coal load snakes out of the valley that the Moffat Tunnel is located in, following alongside the siding at East Portal on one side and South Boulder Creek on the other side.
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A UP coal load passes by some maintenance of way equipment currently tied down in the house track at East Portal. The coal load has the standard 2x3x1 setup as far as power goes. Dynamic brakes are starting to whine in the valley as the grade downhill grade increases.
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An SD70ACe and an AC4400CW lead a loaded coal train out the Moffat Tunnel at the end of September, just as fall colors are hitting their peaks. The coal train loaded at the West Elk mine on the North Fork Branch. There only seems to be about one coal train every few weeks on the Moffat these days, so this was a nice morning surprise.
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An eastbound coal load...one of few that run on the Moffat these days...emerges from the tunnel in glorious morning light amidst a sea of fall colors.
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If you look close, you'll notice a few wires cutting across and near the top of the frame. These wires are part of the high/wide detector at MP 48.0. The detector protects against cars...or more likely anything sticking out from a car...that would not clear a tunnel.
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Just west of the west end of Tolland, a UP oil empty makes its way west amongst a sea of fall colors in the last bit of direct sunlight before the sun dips behind the mountains.
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As the sun approaches the western horizon (well...mountains), the crew of a UP oil empty approaches a clear (green) signal at the west end of Tolland.
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A Phase 7 P42DC, AMTK 187, leads the eastbound California Zephyr out the east end of East Portal amidst a beautiful, vibrant sea of fall colors. The sun managed to peak out from mostly cloudy skies just in time to light the scene to perfection.
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The clouds are finally starting to break up this afternoon, with one floating through the scene just west of Rollins. The head end of UP's MGJNY breaks into daylight along South Boulder Creek as it approaches the west end of Rollins.
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