Photo ID: 105851 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 29, 2016 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Simms Street Arvada, CO 1439 (2 Comments Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This coal train loaded on the North Fork branch in western Colorado and will be the first coal train to head east on the KP in over a week. It seems like the bottom dropped out of coal nearly overnight! Once a staple of the Moffat, coal trains are now something a rarity, worth finding and shooting. With coal trains becoming somewhat rare on the Moffat, it seems ironic that I would get some pictures of one on Leap Day! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105852 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 29, 2016 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Simms Street Arvada, CO 1260 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Just three days prior to this picture, coal mine operator Bowie announced that it was idling Bowie #2 (on the North Fork Branch) indefinitely due to the downturn in the coal market. In 2013, the mine employed over 300 miners. 150 of those were laid off when the mine lost a contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Now, at least half of the remaining miners will be laid off as well. This least the West Elk Mine as the sole operating mine on the North Fork Branc1 Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105853 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 29, 2016 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Simms Street Arvada, CO 1279 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Swing helpers on the few-remaining coal trains on the Moffat, such as the ones seen here, are the only thing keeping hostlers on duty at North Yard for UP. Hostlers move power around the yard as needed, whether it be to set up power for a train or cutting out swing helpers from a coal train. In many other places on UP's system, hostlers have been eliminated and the trains crew has moved their own power. However, UP does not want the crew on the head end of the coal train to have to cut out mid-train swing helpers. So for now, the hostlers look to be safe. However, they have been reduced by over 50% at North Yard as a result of the downturn in coal traffic. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105854 Date Shot Photo By Monday, February 29, 2016 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Simms Street Arvada, CO 1247 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A former Espee AC400CW brings up the tail end of an eastbound coal load, crossing over Simms Street in Arvada. After cutting out its swing helpers, the train will continue east on the KP toward Kansas and points west. This will be the first coal train on the KP in over a week! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.