Photo ID: 110488 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 84 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer On a cloud, slightly rainy, May morning, the Rocky Mountaineer starts another journey west toward Glenwood Springs (its stop of tonight) and Moab tomorrow. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110489 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 96 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer Growing up in the 1980s, going out train chasing with my dad, I was raised on Rio Grande. Consequently, spartan cab EMDs are by far my favorite locomotives. That makes seeing a pair of GP40-3s on the point of the Rocky Mountaineer really great every time I see them. Here, they are leading the Rocky Mountaineer as it approaches the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110490 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 101 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer As the westbound Rocky Mountaineer approaches Blue Mountain Drive, the engineer throttles up and both GP40-3s kick up a little extra exhaust. It is a very rainy morning out today. In fact, there was some light hail falling as the train rolls west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110491 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Cliff to Rollins (MP 38.2 to MP 41.2) Gilpin County, CO 82 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is between Cliff and Rollins in the area known as Pactolus, passing by the signal at MP 39.9. The train had an Approach Diverging (yellow over yellow) signal at the intermediate as the train will be taking the siding at Rollins. An eastbound UP coal load is already sitting on the main, waiting for the train to arrive. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110492 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Cliff to Rollins (MP 38.2 to MP 41.2) Gilpin County, CO 101 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer Just west of Tunnel 30, the Rocky Mountaineer's "Rockies to the Red Rocks" follows along South Boulder Creek in the narrow canyon just east of Rollins. The GP40-3s are kicking up some exhaust as the train snakes its way west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110493 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 29 (MP 36.4, 75 ft) Boulder County, CO 102 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A pair of AC4400CWs lead an eastbound coal load across the bridge over South Boulder Creek just west of Tunnel 29. The train just departed Cliff on a green signal and will have greens the rest of the way in to Denver. In the distance, there is still a lot of snow covering the Continental Divide. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110494 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 29 (MP 36.4, 75 ft) Boulder County, CO 81 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific An eastbound UP coal load...pretty rare on the Moffat in 2024...is just starting its journey east through the Tunnel District. About two cars of the train are in the shortest tunnel in the district, Tunnel 29 (78 feet). Note South Boulder Creek to the right, which will quickly decrease in elevation. Faster than the tracks, to be sure. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110495 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rainbow Cut Arvada, CO 112 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This is a shot that I've want to get for years. I finally had the chance to get the shot today with this eastbound UP coal load as the subject. The train is winding through the S-Curves in the middle of Plain at Rainbow Cut. UP only runs a handful coal trains on the Moffat these days, making it a bit of an added bonus. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110496 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 103 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Almost feels like it could be 2005. A pair of AC4400CWs leading an eastbound coal train at Plain! It is, however, 2024 as this GE pair crosses the grade crossing at Plain on the main track. In the distance, to the right, you can see the east portal of Tunnel 4. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110497 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 83 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific As is typical for loaded UP coal trains on the Moffat, a trio of units has been cut in as mid-train swing helpers. A pair of ES44ACs and an SD70ACe have the duty today at Plain. This trio will be cut out when the train arrives in Denver. Note the paved road in the background. That is the far east (north) end of the new Canyon Pines neighborhood. Note that it does *not* connect in with Plainview Road. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110498 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 87 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific An AC4400CW and an SD70ACe are the DPUs on the tail end of this eastbound coal load (moving away from the camera), here on the main track at Plain. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110499 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, May 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 73 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Two units bring up the tail end of a loaded coal train on the main at Plain. Coal loads typically only have one DPU on the tail end, so it is not entirely clear if the train will depart Denver with both units, or if one will be taken off. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.