Photo ID: 108257 Date Shot Photo By Monday, June 29, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 912 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A majority of UP's 900 or so ES44ACs and ES44AHs are in the 7000-8000 number range. However, 80 of them wound up in the 2500 and 2700 series. These 80 units are all known as Tier 4 "Credit" units. They were ordered after Tier 4 emissions standards were in place, even though they are Tier 3 units, by using "credits" UP had accrued. UP 2747 is one such unit, delivered in late 2016. Here, it is leading the MGJNY around Big Ten Curve on a largely cloudy morning. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108256 Date Shot Photo By Monday, June 29, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 992 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A UP eastbound manifest peeks in to view around Big Ten Curve. A lot of graffiti has been applied to the open wind break hoppers in the last decade or so. They were repainted the tan-ish color you see in the 1990s. In the 25 years since (give or take), the blank cars became tempting targets for taggers. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108222 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 799 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A quartet of GEs (including an ES44DC, an ET44C4, an AC4400CW, and another ES44DC) lead up the westbound Denver-Provo up and around Big Ten Curve. You can clearly see the back end of the train, still being pulled up from Rocky, on the north side of Big Ten. These four units had a short stay in Denver as they actually led the Provo-Denver east in to town yesterday morning. Now, they had back to Utah. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108216 Date Shot Photo By Monday, June 22, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 801 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific As the head end of this coal empty comes through the final curve of Big Ten Loop, the tail end of the train still making its way up from the west switch at Rocky above and right-of-center in the frame, offering a great example of all the twists and turns and bends that make up this incredible feat of engineering to gain altitude while tempering the grade of the tracks. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108215 Date Shot Photo By Monday, June 22, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 874 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern A coal empty passes by the open hoppers that wrap around the inside curve of Big Ten. Those hoppers have been sitting there alongside the main for nearly 50 years, serving as a wind break. This morning, An SD70ACe and an NS AC4400CW lead four other UP GEs west around the curve. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108214 Date Shot Photo By Monday, June 22, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 913 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific An SD70ACe leads five GEs (including a Norfolk Southern unit) on the climb up Big Ten Curve from Rocky. This coal empty is the first in over a week to run west from Denver. The train has 105 cars headed for the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch south of Grand Junction. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108180 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, June 11, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 845 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This vantage point offers a great view of Big Ten Curve, which the head end of the train is currently coming around, and Little Ten Curve in the distance. The only manifest that UP still runs on the Moffat, the MGJNY, is nearing the end of its journey as it comes through the loops. It should be noted that the trains counterpart, the MNYGJ (westbound) still runs on the Moffat as well. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108175 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, June 11, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 757 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak On the west leg of Big Ten Loop, the westbound Zephyr is approaching the east switch of Eisele (Clay). A restricting (red over flashing red) signal awaits the Zephyr there as it will take the siding to meet an eastbound UP manifest currently at Plain. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108174 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, June 11, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 818 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Running a little over an hour late, the westbound Zephyr climbs toward Big Ten Loop up from Rocky and Little Ten Loop. A P40DC (AMTK 824) is second out in the consist this morning. Passenger counts are still a bit low due the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in seven Superliners today. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108167 Date Shot Photo By Monday, June 8, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 886 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A 14-hour late Zephyr wraps around Big Ten Curve alongside the wind-break hoppers in early morning sunlight. Yesterday's westbound Zephyr had mechanical issues in Utah. This Zephyr had to help out, resulting in hours of delays and a morning descent down the Front Range in to Denver. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108038 Date Shot Photo By Friday, May 22, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 893 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF An eastbound BNSF Provo to Denver wraps around Big Ten Loop as it comes out of Eisele (Clay). The train has a trio of GEs on the point and two more DPU'd on the tail end, visible near the middle of the shot. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107978 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 968 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF At this time of year, the shadows are long no matter what time of day it is! Said long shadows follow this length unit oil train as it continues west around the curve in to Eisele (Clay). The train looks pretty symmetrical as it is set up 2x2 and has a covered hopper buffer car on each end. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107977 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 984 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF The entirety of this empty oil train can be see from this vantage point, although the first half or so is secluded in the shadows ahead at Eisele (Clay). An SD70ACe and a C44-9W bring up the rear of the train, just coming off the last curve of the Big Ten Loop. The train is headed to Utah for loading. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107975 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 853 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A pair of ES44C4s and a buffer car (covered hopper) lead an empty oil train along the final leg of Big Ten Curve. This last leg does not actually curve until getting close to the east switch of Eisele (Clay), when the track turn to the north. Note part of the rest of the train, still making the climb up the grade on the other side of Big Ten. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107974 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 908 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF This perspective of Big Ten Loop really shows just how impressive the S-Curves are that make up both Little Ten and Big Ten. For those that may be unfamiliar with Big Ten Loop, it was a bit of engineering genius that allowed the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific to climb the face of the Rockies while keeping to right around 2%. You may note the covered hoppers on the inside of the curve in the foreground. They have been there for nearly 50 years, filled with cement and dirt and serving as a permanent wind break. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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