Photo ID: 105039 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed 80th Avenue Arvada, CO 1538 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The mercury in the thermometer is barely reaching 20°F on this chilly March morning. Arctic air and two feet of snow falling the last two weeks makes for a peaceful blanket of the white stuff along the tracks. The big question here is whose train is this? Turns out that it is UP's MNYRO (Manifest, North Yard, CO to Roper, UT). A couple of BNSF units are being borrowed for the journey west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105040 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed 80th Avenue Arvada, CO 1470 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This westbound manifest is just about to cross 80th Avenue at the grade crossing just east of the east switch of Leyden. The train has a clear signal at Leyden and will continue up to Rocky. There, it will head in to the siding to meet an eastbound coal load. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105041 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS012 (East Leyden) Arvada, CO 1519 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF Just from looking at this picture, it would make sense to assume that this is one of BNSF's trackage rights trains that run on the Moffat. As it turns out, this is actually UP's MNYRO headed west (away from the camera). The BNSF C44-9W seen here is being borrowed, along with two more on the head end, to assist in the journey to Utah. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105042 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1316 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Prior to this train, I don't recall the last time I saw a pair of EMDs leading a coal train on the Moffat! After several years of SD70ACes never showing up on UP coal trains, they have started showing up a lot more in the last year or so. It was a welcome site (and sound) when these two SD70ACes appeared out of the fog here at the east end of Barbara's Gulch at the old Chem Spur switch. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105043 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 1350 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The weather was a bit curious on this cold March morning. 15 minutes before taking this picture, you could clearly see all the way to Eisele to the west. Then, this fog rolled in, seemingly from nowhere! An eastbound coal load with a pair of SD70ACes emerges from the fog at Chem Spur. The train is headed for Xcel Energy's Valmont Power Plant in Boulder. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105044 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 1358 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Just from looking at this scene, it is hard to believe that it is March! This eastbound coal load heads slowly in to the siding at Leyden where it will wait to meet the California Zephyr and a second westbound. If you look toward the west end, you can see the two mid-train swing helpers. Most coal trains on the Moffat have three mid-train swing helpers. Those trains have the three units cut out in Denver for the trip east on the plains. This train, however, is headed for the Xcel Energy Valmont Power Plant in Boulder. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105045 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 1364 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific While I have no statistics to prove it, I suspect that Leyden is one of the most-used sidings on the east slope of the Moffat. Eastbounds frequently need to hold here to wait for westbounds coming out of the yard. In the case of BNSF, eastbound manifest will frequently hold here because the yard won't have space for the trains. On this morning, this eastbound coal train is going to meet two westbounds (include Amtrak) before continuing on it to town. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105046 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 1381 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific I wouldn't mind owning the tan-ish house on the right side of this photo! That house is the Arvada neighborhood of Five Parks. I want to say the "new" neighborhood of Five Parks, but, hard as it may be to believe, it is actually over 15 years old now. An eastbound coal load glides slowly through the siding toward the east end. The purple derail is for the house track, buried in snow behind the siding. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105047 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 2, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 1308 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It is a cold and hazy March morning as this eastbound coal load heads toward the east end of the siding at Leyden. UP 8410 is one of the oldest SD70ACes on UP's roster. It was among the first 100 or so SD70ACes delievered to UP back in 2005. It is hard to believe that SD70ACes are now ten years old! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.