Photo ID: 113573 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 84 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific UP's MGJNY descended the first half of the east slope of the Moffat quite early this morning. However, the train has a relatively low "blow over" speed, meaning it is highly susceptible to high winds. It has been a morning of high winds, in excess of 55 MPH, on Big Ten. So, DS-378 held the manifest here in the siding at Plain. The wind speeds have died down, and it is time to slowly continue in to Denver. The train is around 7,000 feet long, and has a lot of power on the head end. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113572 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS024 (East Plain) Arvada, CO 72 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak When The Zephyr left Chicago, it was led by AMTK 4 and AMTK 5. AMTK 4 was swapped for AMTK 150 in Denver, resulting in a roughly two hour delay. It is unclear if AMTK 4 had a mechanical issue, or it was just swapped with AMTK 150, and AMTK 4 will show up on the Winter Park Express tomorrow morning. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113571 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0) Arvada, CO 78 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak This morning's Zephyr is almost two hours late after a delay in Denver. The lead unit on the Zephyr, AMTK 150, was taken from the Winter Park Express power. It is unclear why it was necessary to swap power. It is possible that AMTK 150 is due for a 92-day inspection and, as a result, had to be swapped and sent west to Emeryville. In any case, the Zephyr is just west of Tunnel 1, coming up to Plain. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113565 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 16, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 56 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak It is a beautiful morning with mostly clear skies as the westbound Zephyr approaches the east portal of Tunnel 1. The Zephyr lost a bit of time all the way from Chicago to Denver, so it is just over an hour late this morning. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113564 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 16, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0) Arvada, CO 59 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Just a little over an hour late, the Zephyr climbs the grade from the base of Coal Creek Canyon up toward the east portal of Tunnel 1. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113563 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 16, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay)) Arvada, CO 79 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak On what might be one of the last snowy mornings this season, the California Zephyr heads west on the main at Eisele (Clay). AMTK 79 and AMTK 193 are leading the train this morning. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113562 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 16, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 65 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak After one of the driest winters in recorded history, some fresh snow finally fell Saturday night and Sunday night in the Denver area. However, with a forecasted high of 80°F (27°C) in just two days, it is possible this is the last blanket of snow we will see this season. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113561 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 16, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 62 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The day is coming when Amtrak's Phase 5 units will pass into history and essentially all locomotives will sport the Phase 7 scheme. For now, the Phase 7 scheme is still something of a novelty, and it was nice catching AMTK 79 wearing the new paint on the point of the Zephyr this morning. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113496 Date Shot Photo By Friday, February 6, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS022 (West Eiesle (Clay)) Arvada, CO 97 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The Winter Park Express is reportedly doing very well this season, despite the relative lack of snow. The State of Colorado increased the subsidization of the train this year, with one-way tickets as low as $9 from Denver to Winter Park (or back) on Thursdays and Fridays. Here, AMTK 170 and AMTK 150 head west out of the west end of Eisele (Clay). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113495 Date Shot Photo By Friday, February 6, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay)) Arvada, CO 96 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The morning Winter Park Express rolls through a green signal at the east end of Eisele (Clay) on yet another temperature February morning. It is already 45ºF, and it is supposed to be almost 70ºF by this afternoon. Of course, it'll be cooler up at the slopes of Winter Park. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113494 Date Shot Photo By Friday, January 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 102 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Following roughly an hour behind a westbound coal empty, the westbound Zephyr is making track speed as it kicks up a bit of fresh fallen snow dust at Leyden. Something else of note...if you look closely at the west house track switch on the siding, you'll note a chunk of track missing. UP took the west switch of the track out of service years ago. They removed the frog and spiked the switch. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113492 Date Shot Photo By Friday, January 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 109 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A trio of GEs leads a westbound coal empty on the main at Rocky. Piles of used ties line the siding, waiting to be picked up. UP has been involved in a major maintenance project, replacing ties, tie plates, and ballast for the past several months. The project is finally nearly completion, save for a bit of cleanup work. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113491 Date Shot Photo By Friday, January 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 114 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific After the morning Winter Park Express rolled through, there was an unexpected bonus when this westbound coal empty highballed the east end of Rocky, following about 30 minutes behind the Winter Park Express. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113490 Date Shot Photo By Friday, January 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0) Arvada, CO 108 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Skiers have to be pretty happy to see a fresh dusting of snow along the Front Range as the Winter Park Express climbs the grade from the base of Coal Creek Canyon toward Tunnel 1. While it is only 7°F (-14°C) here along the Front Range, it around 25°F (-4°C) in Winter Park. Still cold, but not quite a frigid as here. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113489 Date Shot Photo By Friday, January 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 109 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The Winter Park Express crosses the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive on a morning when the temperature is only 7°F (-14°C). A UP hyrailer, waiting for its turn to set on the tracks, observe the train as the Winter Park Express heads west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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