Photo ID: 114380 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Boulder County, CO 43 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF From Rollins Pass, we can see an eastbound oil train on the main at East Portal, having just emerged from the Moffat Tunnel. Prior to the tunnel opening nearly a century ago, trains had to make the steep climb here up and over the Continental Divide. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114379 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Boulder County, CO 35 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF Following about an hour behind the eastbound Zephyr is this eastbound BNSF (loaded) oil train. The MRL SD70ACe was a nice treat to find on the train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114363 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 40 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This westbound coal empty had an Approach (yellow) signal at the east end of East Portal as the Moffat Tunnel was completing its venting cycle after the Zephyr came through. However, the venting finished right after the train passed the east end, and it now has a green at the west end to head into the 6.2-mile long tunnel. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114356 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 58 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific UP 5281 leads an eastbound coal load, approaching the grade crossing at East Portal. The westbound Zephyr is holding at Tolland, waiting on the arrival of the train. Due to the steep grade at Winter Park, the coal train could not be held there. Fortunately, the delay to the Zephyr would only be about 25 minutes. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114339 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 51 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF Fall colors are kind of all over the place as a westbound Denver-Provo approaches the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel. September 20th is still a little early (on average) for fall colors to reach their peak here at 9,000-feet. The train will be the third train since sunrise to pass through the Moffat Tunnel. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114338 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 47 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF An AC4400CW and two ES44ACs lead a westbound manifest pass by a pond at East Portal. You can see the east leg of the wye that is at East Portal breaking away from the siding alongside the head end. The wye follows the original grade that use to make a 180º curve and start the steep climb up Rollins Pass. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114337 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 53 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF At East Portal, BNSF's Denver-Provo is on the main as many trees are reaching their peak here at 9,000 feet. The train has the pretty standard trio of units on the head end, and there are a lot of tank cars in the train's consist. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114326 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 50 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Fortunately (for me), this eastbound originally had a red signal at the west end of East Portal and briefly stopped inside the Moffat Tunnel. I say that it was fortunate for me because the train was going slow enough that I was able to beat it to the grade crossing at the east end and get this shot. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113711 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, April 19, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 166 (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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113710 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, April 19, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 141 (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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113154 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 364 (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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112798 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 307 (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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112797 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 307 (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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112796 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 315 (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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112793 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 402 (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. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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