Photo ID: 105875 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 7, 2016 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1322 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific, Electro-Motive Division A winter storm blasts through the Front Range, with moisture falling in various spots, as the EMD SD70ACe-T4 special climbs up Big Ten Curve. If you look to the right, you can see the Denver skyline off in the distance, not currently obscured by clouds. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105419 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, August 9, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1686 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak After making its way around Big Ten Curve, the eastbound California Zephyr is descending toward the west switch of Rocky on a clear signal. In the distance (to the right), the Denver skyline stands illuminated by the evening sun. As you can see, not all of Denver is receiving the same (direct) light thanks to scattered afternoon rain clouds. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105023 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, February 25, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 2092 (1 Comment Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The construction of the tracks between Rocky and Eisele (formerly Clay) is a truly remarkable feat of engineering. When the David Moffat started building the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific west out of Denver in 1902, there were some major obstacles. Between the west end of Barbara's Gulch and East Plain, the tracks needed to gain about 600 feet in elevation. As the crow flies, the distance was only 2.85 miles. That would equate to roughly a 4% grade. H.A. Sumner (the Chief Engineer on the project) did not want a grade steeper that 2%. The result was a creative route that includes a lot of curves (such as Big Ten Curve, seen here). The 2.85 miles was stretched out to almost 7 miles, and the grade stayed at or under 2%. The MNYRO is just pulling up to Big Ten Curve from Rocky, heading southeast (geographically), but slowly running around a curve that will result in the train heading west by the end of the curve. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105017 Date Shot Photo By Friday, February 13, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1478 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A very short eastbound California Zephyr makes its away around and down Big Ten Curve on the approach to a clear signal at the west end of Rocky. The Zephyr is running with only six Superliners this winter, reportedly so Amtrak can refurbish and repair the fleet. Also of note is that the Zephyr is running without a baggage car. Apparently, the baggage space in the Superliners is currently sufficient. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104924 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, January 15, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1401 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific An unit oil train makes its way around Big Ten Curve as it continues its journey east. As the demand for coal has been decreasing, the demand for oil has been increasing! A new oil load out has been built at Wash (just outside Wellington, UT). Currently, the load out is producing about a train a week. Rumor has it the goal is get production up to a train a day. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104923 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, January 15, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1863 (2 Comments Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific With sunset not far off, an eastbound unit oil train rounds Big Ten Curve. The hoppers you see have been sitting there for over 40 years! They are filled with dirt and are welded to the rails. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104130 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, March 4, 2012 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 2097 (3 Comments Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It's always good to throw in a picture of Big Ten Curve from time to time! This coal load is descending from the curve and approaching the west switch of Rocky where a clear signal is waiting for it. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 103748 Date Shot Photo By Monday, May 23, 2011 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1730 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The eastbound Zephyr comes around Big Ten Loop. This is a 300mm shot as seen from Highway 72 across the field. The heritage units look pretty good on the point. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 103738 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, May 12, 2011 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 2881 (3 Comments Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The eastbound Zephyr comes through Big Ten Curve and starts to descend toward Rocky where it will pass a manifest that it has been following since Cliff. Amtrak's Phase I Heritage Unit leads the Zephyr east. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 103527 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, August 18, 2010 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 2711 (2 Comments Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A BNSF train makes its way around Big Ten Loop. But the question is, which way is it going? If you guessed west, you'd be correct. The three units toward the right side of the screen are on the head end and the train is pulling up grade. There is a single DPU unit on the tail end of the train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 103525 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, August 18, 2010 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1919 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The eastbound California Zephyr is running about 45 minutes early (yes, early) as it rounds Big Ten Curve on its journey east. It will meet westbounds at Rocky and Leyden (both of which are already waiting for the Zephyr). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 103486 Date Shot Photo By Saturday, May 15, 2010 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 2306 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Have you ever seen the California Zephyr running in what appears to be a distributed power formation with one P42 on the point and a second on the end? Turns out, in this case, the Zephyr is being taken back to Denver. A major rock slide required it be pulled back to town. The P42 on the left side of the shot is providing HEP and the P42 on the right is pulling the train eastbound around Big Ten Curve. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 1034 Date Shot Photo By May 1999 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 2768 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak For a short time during the transition between F40PH's and P42DC's, two P42 and one F40 could often be found on the California Zephyr. The F40 was used for HEP, while the P42's actually pulled the train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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