The westbound Zephyr that departed Chicago on June 23rd had a late start. Unfortunately, it lost more time on its journey west toward Denver, and departed Denver a little over three hours late. Here, that train is coming up to an approach (yellow) signal at the east switch of Rocky. It will be meeting a BNSF Provo-Denver which is already in the block at the west end.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A westbound BNSF oil empty has a very unique look to it, with a BN caboose on the tail end of the train! The caboose is now referred to as a shoving platform as the doors and windows are boarded up. The train is entering the siding at Rocky and will meet UP's MGJNY, holding the main at Eisele (Clay) in the distance.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Two NS units and a BNSF unit bring up the tail end of this eastbound unit oil train. The units are just passing by the old Chem Spur switch. Grass has reclaimed much of the short branch line. As always, the metal structure that was one part of a mining operation, stands tall along the tracks. The first body of water in the distance is Welton Reservoir. The second is Standley Lake. Both are sources of drinking water.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
NS 1221, NS 4753, and BNSF 9725 lead this eastbound loaded oil train through Barbara's Gulch. The campers in the background are now part of long term storage facility. BNSF 9725 is also a bit rare, one of only a handful of SD70MACes (rebuilt from SD70MACs).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Since the start of the "PTC era" a few years ago, power shared units stopped leading on the Moffat. Leaders were pretty exclusively UP or BNSF (for those respective railroads). However, with PTC matured a bit now, and with PTC following a universal standard for all US railroads, an NS SD70ACe leads this eastbound BNSF manifest through Barbara's Gulch.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
While this BNSF oil train progresses east through Barbara's Gulch, we can see the sea of relatively new houses built in Candelas over the last decade as part of Arvada's most recent expansion.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Two Norfolk Southern units and a BNSF SD70MAC lead this loaded oil train east through Barbara's Gulch. In the distance, you can see the intersection of Highway 93/72, and even west all the way to the case of Coal Creek Canyon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The morning Zephyr slows as it heads west through Barbara's Gulch. The train will enter the siding at Rocky ahead as the main at Rocky is currently out of service.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
I really like the contrasting foliage all visible right here in a single scene. As a loaded BNSF coal train heads west through Barbara's Gulch, the foliage in the gulch is covered in snow. Meanwhile, warming temperatures has melted most of the snow outside of the gulch.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An SD70ACe leads five GEs on the point of the Grand Junction to North Yard manifest. The head end is passing by Chem Spur, which hasn't been used in over a decade. Indeed, UP removed the frog for the turnout almost a decade ago. It's a little surprising they haven't removed the entire turnout.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Six UP units lead the thrice-weekly MGJNY. The train is about 4,200 feet in length, with quite a few coal loads mixed into the train. Astute observers will note five covered hoppers in the distance, on the plateau above Barbara's Gulch. These cars are sitting on the Rocky Flats Industrial Lead near both CO-93 and CO-72.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This BNSF oil train, like all oil trains on the Moffat, was loaded at the Transload facility in Wellington, UT. Interestingly, I shot this train about a week earlier, on New Year's Eve, when it was headed west on the Moffat in Arvada.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After spending several hours tied down in the siding at Rocky, waiting for a fresh crew, this BNSF oil train is back on the move in Barbara's Gulch.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Winter Park Express is kicking off the season with four coaches and a lounge car. AMTK 75 and AMTK 146 are providing the power. Tickets for the train are about 50% of what they were last year, thanks to some subsidization by the Colorado government. After Christmas, two additional coaches will come to Denver to be added to the train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It is a sunny and relatively warm December morning for the first run of Amtrak's Winter Park Express Ski Train. For the first time since the Anschutz Ski Train, the regular season is starting in December (before Christmas) instead of in January.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
