Just west of the west switch of Leyden, the westbound Zephyr is about 10 minutes late as it hustles west, trying to make up time if possible.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
At the base of Coal Creek Canyon, the westbound Zephyr wraps around the sweeping 180° curve so it can climb the 2% grade up to Tunnel. It will then make a turn to the north, run through Plain, and then start west through the Tunnel District.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Just west of Tunnel 1, the Zephyr heads west through a chilly and rather gloomy scene on an overcast December 1.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A westbound oil train passes underneath Colorado Highway 93 as it snakes its way through Barbara's Gulch. The head end is approaching a clear (green) signal at the east end of Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A westbound oil empty, with seven units (not all loading) on the head end, heads through Little Ten Curve and out of the west end of Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Even though all seven units on the point of this westbound oil train are UP, it is still something of rainbow of schemes as the schemes cover a myriad of eras as well as varying degrees of upkeep. The fourth unit is an SD70ACe sporting the newest scheme, while sixth is an SD60M wearing a pre-SP merger paint scheme.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Took this particular shot in order to highlight UP 2311. This SD60M was built by EMD and delivered to UP in May 1989 as UP 6156. It has three window panes on the front of the cab, which earned such units the nickname "Tri-clops". The unit is not powered on this train, and it is in fact headed for long term storage in Grand Junction.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP has been running far more trains on the Moffat lately than in many years. This westbound oil empty is an example of the most common type of train UP runs these days. There are, on average, at least 1-2 oil trains on the Moffat each 24 hours these days.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The head end of this unit oil train is coming off of Big Ten and approaching a clear (green) signal at East Eisele (Clay). The crew can look over to the right and catch the tail end of the train, still on the rise up from Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Coal has been making a little bit of a resurgence on the Moffat recently. Just in the last week, the number of coal trains has increased. The previous three days, I've seen at least one coal train per day. Such is the case with this eastbound load, cutting through Arvada just east of Leyden.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An SD70ACe and an AC4400CW lead an eastbound coal load across 66th Avenue in the mostly residential suburb of Arvada.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Moffat wraps through a nice, long S-Curve around 66th Avenue in Arvada. Coal trains were once as common on the Moffat here as trees along the right-of-way. With the decline in coal, they virtually disappears from the Moffat for years. They have started to make a minor resurgence lately, however, and this eastbound load is rolling through the scene.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This eastbound coal load has the typical power configuration that UP has used on coal loads on the Moffat for years. In addition to the two units on the point and one on the rear, there are three mid-train DPUs assisting in the run. These three units were be cut out once the train reaches Denver, and the train will continue with just a 2x1 configuration.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A single SD70ACe brings up the tail end of this eastbound loaded coal train. The train was loaded at the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch. While the train is moving through Arvada, the skyline of downtown Denver is clearly visible in the distance.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
