Photo ID: 111605 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, December 31, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 247 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific At the west end of Rocky, an eastbound UP oil train takes the siding, meeting a westbound oil empty. These oil trains have truly given new life to the Moffat over the last 1-2 years. Granted they are not nearly as common as coal trains once were, but they have increased the average number of trains in a 24 hour period from 5-6 to 7-8. UP 5919 is taking the siding not only to meet the empty on the main, but also to meet the westbound Zephyr, currently around Utah Jct. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111604 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, December 31, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 146 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The conductor for this westbound oil train is on the ground, ready to give a roll by to an eastbound oil load that will take the siding. As you can see, the switch is bent for the siding, and the signal is showing a red-over-yellow (Diverging Approach) aspect for the approaching train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111130 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 225 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer RMRX 8600, the leased SD40M-2 from Horizon Rail, and a standard Mountaineer GP40-3 lead the westbound Rocky Mountaineer. Unlike on the Zephyr, passengers on the Mountaineer are allowed to open the vestibule windows and enjoy some fresh air. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111065 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 187 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific DS-380 was unable to throw the switch at the west end of Rocky. The conductor walked up to take a look. He discovered that the bar that connects the motor to the switch points somehow became detached from the switch points. The switch is currently not capable of being thrown! The oil train is going to have to wait for the Zephyr and then back out onto the main at East Rocky. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111062 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 13, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 188 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF In 2024, mainline locomotives almost universally have around 4,400 horsepower. As a result, fewer units are typically needed on the head end of trains. Whereas 5 or 6 units was not uncommon 40 years ago, 2 or 3 is often then case in 2024. So, it is rather cool to come across a train like this, with 6 units on the head end. These units will be distributed throughout this oil train for the trip east, when the (loaded) train is far heavier than the current empty. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110924 Date Shot Photo By Friday, August 16, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 177 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Sunflowers are popping up along the right-of-way as we move closer to the end of summer. Three units, elephant-style, lead an empty oil train out the west end of Rocky on the journey west. These oil trains, while not as numerous as coal trains were two years ago, are by far the most common train on the Moffat today. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110901 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, August 15, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 194 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific At the time of this shot, the westbound Zephyr was delayed in Denver due to a mechanical issue. DS-380 was planning on bringing an eastbound oil train down the main here at Rocky, meeting a westbound empty on the siding. You can see the yellow (Approach) at the west end. Amtrak would resolve their issues and this signal would be taken back. The oil load would hold the main at Eisele (Clay). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110861 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, August 4, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 228 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A lot of the storm clouds have, at least temporarily, cleared out and the sun is shining near West Rocky as BNSF's Denver-Provo makes its way west. The train was projected to be called at 10am, but it ended up taking quite a bit longer before it was actually called. There is some colorful power on the headend of the train this evening. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110608 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 28, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 178 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Climbing out of the west end of Rocky, the Zephyr has a private car on the tail end. The private car Bella Vista is catching a ride on the train this morning. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110549 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 230 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A pair of Phase 5 P42DCs lead the westbound Zephyr on the main out the west end of Rocky. Meanwhile, a eastbound UP coal train (with a visiting CN unit on the rear) is starting to role east toward Denver. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110548 Date Shot Photo By Friday, June 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 206 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Here is a shot you do not expect to see in Colorado! Amtrak westbound Zephyr meeting an eastbound coal train that has a Canadian National SD70M-2 bringing up the tail end. The blue and red contrast between the two railroads looks quite nice at the west switch of Rocky. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110510 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 248 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr is climbing it way west out of Rocky. The trees have brand new leaves and the area has really greened up here at the midway point in May. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110502 Date Shot Photo By Monday, May 13, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 214 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr approaches a green signal on the main at the west end of Rocky. The BNSF train in the background is actually an eastbound that is tied down in the siding. Once a relief crew gets on board in a few hours, the train will continue east (away from the camera) to Denver and beyond. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110414 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, April 14, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 257 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak At the west switch of Rocky, the eastbound Zephyr is reaching the end of a 15 MPH slow order that has been in effect (off and on) since Cliff. The train, moving in and out of partly cloudy shadows, is one has become the standard consist these days, including seven Superliners. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110355 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 267 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer Last season, the Rocky Mountaineer had some issues with the GP40-3s used for power. This year, two EMD leasers came to town to assist with the trips. An SD40M-2 (formerly an SD45) and an SD18M will help out the Mountaineer for the 2024 season. After finding (and fixing) an air leak, the train is about to depart west out of Rocky. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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