As the sun approaches the western horizon (well...mountains), the crew of a UP oil empty approaches a clear (green) signal at the west end of Tolland.
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Near the west end of Tolland, deciduous trees line both sides of the rails (the main and the siding). As the westbound Zephyr has just overtaken a UP oil can (out of view behind the curve) and is approach a clear (green) signal at the west end as it passes by trees that are at their peak fall colors. If you wonder why Rio Grande used "Aspen Gold" as its main color, this shot says it all!
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In this 400mm shot of a westbound oil empty, stopped in the siding at Tolland, you can easily identify which track is the main and which is the siding. The main has continuous welded rail, while the siding still has joints every 66 feet (roughly). The train is stopped to allow both the morning Zephyr and the Rocky Mountaineer to pass. The Zephyr is only about 15 minutes away.
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A hint of frost holds on to the tips of the evergreen trees in the midst of a sea of yellow. Just as fall is officially starting, temperatures in the high country got below freezing last night, leaving some snow on the ground. However, the ground and even air this morning is warm enough that most traces of the snow are gone as a westbound oil empty comes to a stop in the siding of Tolland.
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Fall colors are in full force here at Tolland, just shy of 9,000 feet above sea level, as the westbound Zephyr rolls through the scene precisely on time. Between the upcoming decreasing temperatures and strong winds common to the area, the leaves will not be on the trees for much longer.
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BNSF recently picked up a contract to deliver Power River Basin coal to Valmy, NV. The loaded coal trains run west over the Moffat. They run with three units on the head end and three units on the tail end. Here, the three DPUs have found morning sun as they disappear toward the west end of Tolland.
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Fall colors are in full force nearly 9,000 feet above sea level as three elephant-style BNSF units lead a coal train toward the Moffat Tunnel a few minutes after 7am.
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The sun has not yet peeked over the mountain here at Tolland, but it is definitely up and it is definitely lighting up the clouds to the east. Meanwhile, a BNSF coal load runs on the main amidst fantastic fall colors.
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On a glorious October morning, a westbound BNSF coal load slowly pulls through a damp scene with fall colors still in force at Tolland. The mix of clouds and sun was just perfect!
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This September afternoon has a lot of clouds floating in and out of the path of the sun. Such is the case with the eastbound Zephyr at Tolland, as the tail end just left a pocket of sunlight and it is now fully engulfed in shadow as it approaches the grade crossing on the main.
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A westbound UP empty oil train sits short of the grade crossing on the siding at Tolland. It is waiting on the eastbound California Zephyr, which is currently in the Moffat Tunnel.
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Fall colors are just barely starting to show at Tolland as the Sunday Rocky Mountaineer crosses the grade crossing at Tolland on its journey west. It is so fantastic having such a unique passenger operation running on the Moffat. After losing the American Orient Express (later the Grande Luxe Express), the Ansco Ski Train, and the Circus Train, it is great having something diverse still running.
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The Rocky Mountaineer GP40-3s look really good on the point of the "Rockies to the Red Rocks" Mountaineer as it approaches the grade crossing at Tolland.
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UP 1943, painted to honor the United States Armed Forces, leads an Officer's Special westbound at Tolland amidst some blossoming fall colors. Due to a cool and west June, the trees are turning colors much later in the season than normal. A high ranking UP official is retiring soon and is enjoying a private run from Denver to Grand Junction and back, courtesy of UP.
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Fall colors are not yet at their peak, but they are still looking pretty good as UP 1943 leads an Officer's Special west on the main at Tolland.
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