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Photo ID: 114207
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0)
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
In the 2025 season, RMRX 8600 was entirely blue in its lease colors. This season, however, it has been painted in full Rocky Mountaineer (Canyon Spirit) colors. Looks very good on the point of the train. With the GP40-3s still out of service due to the accident in Rifle last May, UP 4073 is filling in on the train as well.
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Photo ID: 114206
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Detector (MP 22.6)
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
Being raised on Rio Grande, I absolutely love any time there is an opportunity to see an EMD spartan cab leading on the Moffat. Particularly when it is a model that Rio Grande owned, such as this SD45 Canyon Spirit unit. Now, granted this is not a true SD45 as the 20-cylinder prime mover has been removed and replaced with a 16-cylinder prime mover. The unit is classified as an SD40M-2 now, but it still looks like an SD45!
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Photo ID: 114205
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer, Union Pacific
As the engineer throttles up, UP 4073 really kicks up some exhaust (briefly) as the Canyon Spirit heads west on the main at Eisele (Clay).
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Photo ID: 114204
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
RMRX 8600 throttles up as the westbound Canyon Spirit has cleared a slow order and is accelerating a bit back toward track speed. RMRX 8600 has replaced one of the two UP SD70Ms that has been leading the train the last three months or so, ever since the Canyon Spirit struck a semi truck in Rifle. The two GP40-3s are still in Denver, waiting to be repaired.
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Photo ID: 114203
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rocky (7,330ft)
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, BNSF
The westbound Canyon Spirit sits in the siding at Rocky, the conductor on the ground to give a roll by to this eastbound BNSF oil train. Between the two trains, we have power from four railroads! Union Pacific, Rocky Mountaineer, CSX, and BNSF.
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Photo ID: 114202
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, BNSF
There are few places where you can get a shot like this, with both the head end and tail of a train so clear in the shot. But Big Ten Curve is not your average place! CSX 7106 leads this eastbound loaded oil train toward Rocky as the three DPUs have just left Eisele (Clay) about a hundred feet above.
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Photo ID: 114201
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, BNSF
BNSF oil trains on the Moffat run in a 3x3 configuration. Three units on the point and three DPUs on the end. This eastbound is no exception, as you can see the three units on the point here on the south edge of Big Ten Curve, and three units on the tail end off in the background on the main at Eisele (Clay).
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Photo ID: 114200
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay))
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, BNSF
A bit unusual to see a CSX unit charging toward you out of the east end of Eisele (Clay) on the Moffat. CSX 7106 is putting in some power sharing time, running on a BNSF train on UP rails. For several years, as PTC was being implemented, foreign power did not lead on the Moffat. Now that PTC is well established and compatible across all Class 1s, foreign leaders do show up again from time-to-time.
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Photo ID: 114199
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP DS022 (West Eiesle (Clay))
Arvada, CO
2
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, BNSF
I wish I could have been around to get shots of what are now "fallen flag" railroads 50 years ago. Back when there were half dozen or more Class 1 railroads in Colorado. Today, with UP and BNSF essentially being the only options, it is nice when foreign power shows up, especially when it is leading! CSX 7106 is on the point of an eastbound BNSF oil train in the OS at the west end of Eisele (Clay).
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Photo ID: 114198
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0)
Arvada, CO
2
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, BNSF
An eastbound BNSF oil train, led by a CSX CM44AC (rebuilt from an AC4400CW) snakes its way through the multiple S-Curves around Blue Mountain Drive and the based of Coal Creek Canyon.
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Photo ID: 114197
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP DS024 (East Plain)
Arvada, CO
6
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr just knocked down a Diverging Approach (red over yellow) signal at the east end of Plain and is now running west on the siding. CSX 7106 is waiting on the main, leading an eastbound oil train. The Zephyr has a green signal waiting for it at the west end.
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Photo ID: 114196
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0)
Arvada, CO
5
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr has exited Tunnel 1 and is making its way through the curves and cuts that leads to the east switch of Plain. The train is going to run through the siding at Plain as there is a loaded oil train waiting on the main.
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Photo ID: 114195
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Plain (6,530 ft)
Arvada, CO
4
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, BNSF
CSX 7106 and train have slowed to a stop on the main at the east end of Plain. The westbound Zephyr is climbing toward Tunnel 1 right now and will run through the siding. DS-378 had considered holding the oil train at Crescent, but ended up bringing it down to Plain for a really great meet.
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Photo ID: 114194
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Plain (6,530 ft)
Arvada, CO
7
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, BNSF
Always nice to find a "Dark Future" unit make its way into Colorado. A CSX CM44AC (rebuilt from an AC4400CW) leads an eastbound BNSF unit oil train on the main at Plain. The train is slowing to a stop as it will be meeting the westbound Zephyr here.
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Photo ID: 114192
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
7
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
Colorado typically has clear skies in the mornings in the summer. However, a cold front is starting to move in, and some clouds are gathering over the mountains this morning as the westbound Zephyr climbs the north edge of Big Ten Curve.
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