Photo ID: 104910 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Coal Creek (MP 23) Arvada, CO 1321 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific On a frigid January afternoon, a eastbound coal load wraps through the curves at the base of Coal Creek Canyon and approaches the hotbox detector at milepost 22.6. The temperature barely reached 20°F the entire day, so the snow from the night before never got the chance to melt. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104911 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 1312 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) UMP The last bit of sunlight shines off the peak of the mountain above Coal Creek Canyon as an eastbound coal load approaches the grade crossing at Blue Mountain. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104912 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plastic (MP 16.1) Arvada, CO 1309 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific With clear signals all the way to Denver, this eastbound coal load makes its way through a frost-filled scene between Leyden and Rocky. The temperature was just 17°F...a curious low-hanging layer of clouds hung around the area of Big Ten Loop, visible in the distance. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104913 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plastic (MP 16.1) Arvada, CO 1327 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It is about ten minutes past sunset and really only one word comes to mind when looking at this scene: COLD! This crew brought the train from Bond, CO and will soon be at the end of their journey in Denver. The train will continue east on the KP Line to the plains. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 104914 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1320 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A recently set sun provides for a glowing backdrop as this eastbound coal load passes by a snow-covered fence and field just west of Leyden. Coal trains are slowly losing ground on the Moffat as the demand for coal decreases. On the North Fork Branch, Bowie Mine has reduced production and Somerset Mine has completely shutdown. Bowie Mine recently lost its coal contract with TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority). On the Craig Branch, the mine at Energy produces roughly one loaded train per day. Energy is the supplier of coal for the Valmont Power Plant in Boulder and the Cherokee Power Plant in northeast Denver. Both of these plants will have switched to natural gas by the end of 2017. Those changes will probably eliminate 8-10 coal trains per week (loads and empties) from the Moffat. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.