Photo ID: 107970 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 686 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF An empty BNSF oil train makes its way west on the main at Rocky. Oil trains have rather disappeared from the Moffat in the last year or so, but have suddenly reappeared at the end of 2019 and start of 2020. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107971 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 819 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF While hopper cars once dominated the Moffat (on coal trains), today it tends to be tank cars (for oil) that are most commonly found. While a unit tank train is obviously going to up that count, most BNSF manifests on the Moffat consist primarily of tank cars as well. This unit oil train is headed to Utah for loading. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107972 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS019 (West Rocky) Arvada, CO 773 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A westbound oil train wraps around the long, steady curve at Little Ten Loop, West Rocky, and climbing toward Big Ten Loop on a beautiful January morning. Tunnel 1 can be seen off in the distance. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107973 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 799 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A pair of ES44C4s lead a westbound oil train out of Rocky, climbing up toward Big Ten Loop. While you obviously cannot tell from a still photo, the train was creeping along at 10 MPH (due to a slow order) around Big Ten. The slow order was supposedly for high winds, but there was barely a breeze out at this time. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107974 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 801 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF This perspective of Big Ten Loop really shows just how impressive the S-Curves are that make up both Little Ten and Big Ten. For those that may be unfamiliar with Big Ten Loop, it was a bit of engineering genius that allowed the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific to climb the face of the Rockies while keeping to right around 2%. You may note the covered hoppers on the inside of the curve in the foreground. They have been there for nearly 50 years, filled with cement and dirt and serving as a permanent wind break. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107975 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 737 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A pair of ES44C4s and a buffer car (covered hopper) lead an empty oil train along the final leg of Big Ten Curve. This last leg does not actually curve until getting close to the east switch of Eisele (Clay), when the track turn to the north. Note part of the rest of the train, still making the climb up the grade on the other side of Big Ten. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107976 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay)) Arvada, CO 702 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF Just around the curve ahead, you can see the east switch of Eisele (Clay). This empty oil train has clear signals to continue west, with no trains to meet on this side of the Continental Divide. Also note the tracks at Rocky up and to the right, from where the train just came. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107977 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 865 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF The entirety of this empty oil train can be see from this vantage point, although the first half or so is secluded in the shadows ahead at Eisele (Clay). An SD70ACe and a C44-9W bring up the rear of the train, just coming off the last curve of the Big Ten Loop. The train is headed to Utah for loading. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 107978 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 856 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF At this time of year, the shadows are long no matter what time of day it is! Said long shadows follow this length unit oil train as it continues west around the curve in to Eisele (Clay). The train looks pretty symmetrical as it is set up 2x2 and has a covered hopper buffer car on each end. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.