The paint on UP 6397 has certainly seen some better days as the unit crosses over East Portal Road roughly halfway between the west switch of Tolland and the east switch of East Portal. About 20 years ago, there were rumors that Union Pacific was considering a project to connect Tolland and East Portal. However, if any such project was ever seriously considered, it was dropped with the economic bubble, and start in the downturn of coal, in 2008.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After meeting the California Zephyr at Winter Park, and then waiting for the Moffat Tunnel to vent, it was the Rocky Mountaineer's turn to head east. Ten minutes before 3pm, the train crosses over East Portal Road and South Boulder Creek as it heads toward Tolland. The Continental Divide still has plenty of patches of snow on it, despite the fact we are now officially into summer.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Between Tolland and the bridge over East Portal Road, the tracks seem to run through a long valley of trees. This evening, an hour late Zephyr is running through a slow order on the approach to Tolland.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
AMTK 18 and AMTK 147 lead the eastbound Zephyr across East Portal Road on the single track main between East Portal and Tolland. The sun is trying to press through the clouds around the Continental Divide in the distance.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A single P42DC, AMTK 170, crosses over East Portal Road between East Portal and Tolland. The unit is leading the Winter Park Express Ski Train. A second P42DC, AMTK 29, is on the tail end of the six car train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After waiting patiently in the siding at Tolland for both the westbound Zephyr and the westbound Rocky Moutaineer to overtake it, it is finally this westbound oil empties turn to head west into the Moffat Tunnel. The train is wrapping its way through the curves between Tolland and East Portal.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
In between Tolland and East Portal, the westbound Rocky Mountaineer approaches the east end of East Portal. PTC has finally been installed in RMRX 8600, a lease SD40-2 (in an SD45 car body). It along with one of the GP40-3s lead the train west. In the distance, you can see a westbound empty oil train in the siding at Tolland. After the tunnel vents, it will be its turn to head west.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After meeting a BNSF manifest at Tolland, the westbound Zephyr is on the move again as it crosses over Tolland Road, which leads to the trail heads at the west end of East Portal.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Zephyr rolls through a fantastic winter scene in the Colorado high country. A pair of P42DCs lead the westbound Zephyr across the road to the Moffat Tunnel between Tolland and East Portal.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is between Tolland and East Portal. For that past several months, the Mountaineer has been running with some leased UP SD70Ms while work was done on the GP40-3s. As you can see, the GP40-3s are back on the train, looking sharp matching the passenger cars.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Just east of the east switch of East Portal, BNSF's Denver-Provo manifest is approaching a clear (green) signal. The train is snaking its way along Rollins Road. In the distance, you can see the classic yellow schoolhouse that is a fixture in Tolland.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
