A westbound empty oil train is stopped in the siding at Rocky and will be holding here for a little while. The westbound Zephyr is going to run around the train on the main, and it will continue to hold for an eastbound loaded oil train as well.
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At the time of this shot, the westbound Zephyr was delayed in Denver due to a mechanical issue. DS-380 was planning on bringing an eastbound oil train down the main here at Rocky, meeting a westbound empty on the siding. You can see the yellow (Approach) at the west end. Amtrak would resolve their issues and this signal would be taken back. The oil load would hold the main at Eisele (Clay).
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It is not uncommon to find a ex-SP AC4400CW roaming the rails, but it is less common to find an ex-SP C44-9W. UP 9576 happens to be exactly that! It was originally SP 8112, but was just recently rebuilt as a C44ACM, having its DC traction motors swapped out with AC traction motors. It and two other GEs lead an eastbound oil train at Tunnel 1.
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A freshly repainted C44ACM, sporting UPs newest "go forward" scheme leads a loaded oil train through the crossing at Blue Mountain Drive, through the curves east of Tunnel 1.
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Two decades ago, coal train dominated the Moffat. Fast forward to the time of this shot and coal has been replaced by oil. A westbound empty sits on the siding at Rocky in the foreground, while an eastbound oil load slows to a stop on the main track at Eisele in the distance.
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After arriving in Denver, it was discovered that the Zephyr had an air leak. The decision was made to swap the P42DCs around. AMTK 170 had been the trailing unit upon arriving. After a couple hours of swapping units around, AMTK 170 became the leader and the train departed west. Here, the train passes by empty tank cars and sunflowers on the trip west.
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Three trains in one frame, all three of them facing geographically south. However, two of them (the Zephyr and the oil train to the right) are headed west. The oil train to the left is headed east, waiting for the Zephyr to show up. Busy morning on the Moffat!
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The siding at Eisele (Clay) has weight restrictions on it, which prohibits loaded unit trains - such as oil trains - from operating on the siding. So, the oil train holds the main and the westbound Zephyr runs through the siding on its way west.
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UP 9576 is a C44ACM, recently rebuilt from SP 8112, a C44-9W. One of the largest parts of the rebuild included changing the units from DC traction motors to AC traction motors. Several Class 1 railroads are pursuing rebuilds instead of buying new Tier-4 units from either GE or EMD.
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While UP has been focused on rebuilding some older unit, they still have 170 Tier-4 GE units (ET44ACs) on the roster. UP 2583 is an example of one of these units, as noted by the extra large radiator intakes and interesting bulge directly ahead the radiator intake.
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The westbound Zephyr is approaching a red signal at the west end of Eisele (Clay) on the siding. The oil train on the main is too long to fit between switches, and is waiting for the a clear signal at the east end to proceed east. Once the train clears the west switch, DS-380 will get the Zephyr a light to continue west.
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BNSF's Denver-Provo is pulling into the siding at Leyden. It won't have to wait too long for an eastbound oil train that will meet it on the main, continuing in to Denver.
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After meeting the Zephyr at Eisele and meeting a UP oil train at Rocky, the train will meet a BNSF manifest at Leyden, just ahead. UP 9576 looks pretty sharp in the new UP paint scheme. 15 years ago, most of the buildings (and houses) visible in this shot did not exist. This western most part of Arvada has grown a lot.
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As the eastbound oil train rolls away from the camera on the main track at Leyden, a westbound BNSF manifest (the Denver to Provo) has turned its lights back on full and is ready to depart west as soon as DS-380 aligns the switch and gets a light for the train.
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A westbound Denver-Provo departs the siding at Leyden after meeting an oil train. The train is crossing the bridge at MP 13.35, the bridge over Indiana Street. Eventually, this bridge will likely be rebuilt to accommodate the widening of Indiana Street from two lanes to (at least) four.
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