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Photo ID: 114028
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, June 14, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
51
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr had a quartet of P42DCs on the point this morning. I'm not entirely sure why the extra power was on the train. It was suggested that two units might be headed to Siemens in California to carry out a new Airo train set. It is also possible the extra power was due to the additional Superliners on the Zephyr today. Yet another possibility is just a power relocation move.
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Photo ID: 114027
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, June 14, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
47
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
In addition to the scenery, wildlife is certainly one of the draws for passengers that choose to ride the California Zephyr. This morning, a small herd of elk hustle away from the tracks, trying to distance themselves from the noisy steel beast rolling by them. A quartet of P42DCs lead the unusually long (11-car) train this morning.
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Photo ID: 114026
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, June 14, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
55
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
As the westbound Zephyr starts to accelerate on the main track after clearing a 10 MPH slow order, a herd of elk hear the approaching train and are started to move further up the mountain side. The elk on the far left even looks like it might be calling out a warning.
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Photo ID: 113805
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, May 3, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
95
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak, Union Pacific
The Zephyr is running about two hours late this evening, so the sun is well behind the mountain here at Eisele (Clay). Rays of sun still shine over the mountains in the distance, looking geographically north along the Flat Irons. The main reason for the Zephyr running late was mechanical, hence the ES44AC leading.
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Photo ID: 113734
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
93
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
UP 7198 is missing a lot of its front end below the platform. The cab and long hood are banged up. This unit was involved in a derailment on the North Fork Branch, south of Grand Junction, on December 3, 2025.
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Photo ID: 113733
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
77
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
On the evening of December 3, 2025, a coal empty headed for the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch in western Colorado struck a large rock that had fallen on the track. Fortunately, there were no major injuries to the crew. The two units, however, were pretty banged up. Union Pacific is finally transporting the units to either be repaired or scrapped. Here, they were the 8th and 9th units on the head end of the MGJNY, seen here on the main at Eisele (Clay).
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Photo ID: 113732
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
79
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
I caught wind that the MGJNY was likely going to be transporting some units from Grand Junction to Denver overnight. It was a toss up if it would make it to Denver before sunrise. Turns out, it arrived at Plain about 30 minutes after sunrise. A short time later, the train was here at Eisele (Clay). Alas, it was a very overcast morning, so no direct sunlight.
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Photo ID: 113708
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, April 19, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
84
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF
This westbound BNSF oil empty has actually come to a stop on the main at the west end of Eisele (Clay). Union Pacific has some maintenance of way between Eisele (Clay) and Crescent, and the dispatcher has promised them time until 12:15pm. Consequently, the oil train will be stuck here for the next 45 minutes or so.
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Photo ID: 113693
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, April 12, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
87
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
The first revenue run of the Canyon Spirit is close to wrapping up the round trip from Denver to Salt Lake City and back. The GP40-3s do have a tendency to have quite a few mechanical issues...hopefully that is not the case for RMRX 8021 as a crew member checks something out in one of the access doors on the long hood as the train rolls east on the main at Eisele (Clay).
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Photo ID: 113594
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
96
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
This is the longest train I've ever personally seen on the Moffat. The train is effectively two coal empties stuck together into one. Behind the three lead units (including a pair of CSX ES44AHs) is 105 cars. Then, there are three mid-train DPUs (hidden behind the hill at Big Ten). Behind those three mid-train DPUs is another 104 cars. The train is 11,500 feet long. When the head end reaches East Plain, the tail end will just be passing West Eisele (Clay)! At that length, there are only two sidings between Denver and Grand Junction in which the train could fit between switches: Allen in Glenwood Canyon (at 14,250 feet), and Palisade just east of Grand Junction (at 12,200 feet).
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Photo ID: 113580
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, March 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
116
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
Despite the extreme dry weather, it does appear that the foliage is starting to green up a little bit here around Eisele (Clay). AMTK 176 and AMTK 203 lead the westbound Zephyr on the main track here near the east end of the siding.
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Photo ID: 113432
Date Shot
Photo By
Thursday, December 4, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
185
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
For the past two weeks or so, one of the Zephyr trainsets has been running with a pair of Phase 7 P42DCs. The train is headed west on the main, passing two UP maintenance vehicles. The second truck will be used to haul 250 ties from Eisele (Clay) up to Tunnel 14 today. Only 40 ties can be taken per trip, so about seven trips will be required!
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Photo ID: 113431
Date Shot
Photo By
Thursday, December 4, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
180
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
A significant herd of deer are grazing for food in the snow as the morning Zephyr rolls west on the main at Eisele. In winter months, when it is colder out, deer and elk are more likely to be spotted at lower (warmer) elevations.
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Photo ID: 113297
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, November 10, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
194
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr rolls through the siding at Eisele (Clay). An eastbound BNSF oil train was originally going to be waiting for the Zephyr on the main. However, the oil train ended up holding the main at Plain to wait on the Zephyr there.
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Photo ID: 113280
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
175
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
This westbound UP oil train is slowing to a stop on the main at the west end of Eisele. There is a PTC problem at the west switch this morning, and DS-378 cannot set up a signal for the train. The conductor will have to put the switch in hand throw and the train will flag by the signal.
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