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Photo ID: 113711
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, April 19, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
66
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
This is one reason why it is worth riding the Canyon Spirit at some point! Hard to beat views like this. The Canyon Spirit just came through the Moffat Tunnel, under the Continental Divide. The train is returning to Denver after its second round trip run between Denver and Salt Lake City and back. The train is on the main track at East Portal.
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Photo ID: 113710
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, April 19, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
46
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF
Every BNSF oil train that I can recall seeing on the Moffat runs with six units. Typically, six on the point for the westbound empty, and 3x3 (three on the point, three DPUs on the end). Today is no exception, with six units leading this westbound empty at East Portal, running along South Boulder Creek.
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Photo ID: 113154
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
276
(1 Comment Posted)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
When it comes to rail photography (or outdoor photography in general), there is no better time to get out in the Colorado high country than the last week of September! An eastbound UP manifest has just emerged from the Moffat Tunnel and is rolling eastbound. James Peak and surrounding peaks have a dusting of snow, and fall colors are about at their peak.
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Photo ID: 112798
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
240
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
With a green signal and the Moffat Tunnel curtain now open, the train is throttling up quickly toward track speed.
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Photo ID: 112797
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
240
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer has slowed to a stop on the main at East Portal. Ahead, the Moffat Tunnel is still venting from the Zephyr passing through about 30 minutes ago. Until the tunnel finishes venting, the train will have to wait.
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Photo ID: 112796
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
253
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer is passing the location where, once upon the time, the tracks curve and started up the major grade of Rollins Pass. Today, the east leg of the wye at East Portal lies on a portion of that original grade.
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Photo ID: 112793
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
340
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The Zephyr heads west on the main at East Portal, heading for clear (green) signal at the west end, as it heads into the 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel. Fun fact, eastbound trains at Winter Park almost never receive a green signal, but rather a yellow when departing Winter Park eastbound. This is because, in nearly every circumstance, the Moffat Tunnel curtain (for ventilating) is closed when the train first enters the tunnel.
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Photo ID: 112792
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
296
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
This Amtrak car, named Pacific Bend, was originally by the Budd company in 1950 for Union Pacific. It was transferred to Amtrak as part of passenger equipment transfer in the early 1970s with the formation of Amtrak. Most recently, the car has served as a dorm car for Amtrak crews, as well as part of Amtrak Exhibit train several years ago.
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Photo ID: 112791
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
302
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
This is an Amtrak Metroliner (Amfleet) car, primarily used in the Northeast, along the Northeast Corridor. These types of cars, which are a single level, are designed to fit through the relatively tight tunnels in the New York City area, specifically.
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Photo ID: 112790
Date Shot
Photo By
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
323
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
This is an Amtrak Viewliner 2 car, order about 10 years ago. This particular version is a Baggage/Dorm car. It is a single level car used primarily on trains east of Chicago. It is headed west on the Zephyr, for reasons unknown.
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Photo ID: 112607
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, June 15, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
209
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Norfolk Southern, BNSF
This BNSF oil train is crossing East Portal Road near the east end of East Portal as the tail end of the train is actually still in the Moffat Tunnel. A couple of cars are waiting at the grade crossing as the train rolls by.
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Photo ID: 112606
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, June 15, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
198
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Norfolk Southern, BNSF
It is almost guaranteed that the afternoons will bring clouds on the east side of the Continental Divide in Colorado. Today is no exception as an NS-led oil train follows along a very full South Boulder Creek at East Portal.
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Photo ID: 112605
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, June 15, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
210
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Norfolk Southern, BNSF
An eastbound BNSF oil train is led by a Norfolk Southern "catfish" out of the Moffat Tunnel under cloud afternoon skies. At this location, the eastbound is roughly 9,170 feet above sea level.
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Photo ID: 111907
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, March 9, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
369
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The evening Winter Park Express is about 45 minutes late as it rolls east on the main at East Portal. For some reason unknown to me, rather than both P42DCs running around the train at Fraser, only one ran around, setting up an interesting 1x1 consist for the trip east.
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Photo ID: 111906
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, March 9, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
East Portal (5,750 ft)
Gilpin County, CO
341
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The eastbound Winter Park Express Ski Train just emerged from the Moffat Tunnel and is rolling east on the main. Today, Daylight Saving Time started again for Colorado, adding another hour of light at the end of the day. There is now plenty of light, even when the Ski Train is 45 minutes late.
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