ColoradoRailfan.com » Photo Gallery » Photo Search » View Photos

Previous Page     Next Page

Photo ID: 113202
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Crater Loops
Routt County, CO
38
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
20 years ago, multiple coal trains traversed the Crater Loops here every day. Now, there are only two trains per week (save for the occasional extra here or there) that run on the Craig Branch between Bond and Phippsburg. This is one of the two trains, running from Bond to Phippsburg.

There are two coal mines on the Craig Branch. There are a handful of power plants in the Steamboat and Craig area, all of which have planes to shift from coal to natural gas before 2030. As a result, one of the two remaining mines, Axial, is planning to stop coal operations by the end of 2025, moving from mining to reclamation (cleanup).

The other mine, Energy, is still in operation with no immediate plans to shut down as of October 2025. The mine has 7-10 years of remaining coal in the current seam, but recent approval for expansion can add 1-2 years to that number. However, with that said, Energy is not loading coal trains that are leaving the Branch as of October 2025.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.


Photo ID: 113203
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Crater Loops
Routt County, CO
29
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Routt County Road 4 runs from CO-131 from McCoy up to Crater. It is a dirt road that crosses the tracks at two grade crossing in close proximity at the Crater Loops. UP 6362 is approaching the upper grade crossing right now.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113204
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Tunnel 46 (MP 140.8, 656')
Routt County, CO
34
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
This westbound manifest is existing Tunnel 46 and is approaching Tunnel 47 deep in Rock Creek Canyon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113205
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Tunnel 48 (MP 141.3, 290')
Routt County, CO
40
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Three GEs lead this westbound manifest, consisting almost exclusively of frac sand, as the head end crosses the bridges in Rock Creek Canyon. The train is also in Tunnel 48, Tunnel 47 (hidden behind Tunnel 48), and Tunnel 46.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113206
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rock Creek Canyon (MP 139.7 to MP 141.5)
Routt County, CO
38
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Rock Creek Canyon is a tremendously scenic part of the (former) Rio Grande. You can see the tracks to the right and the left. The tracks head away from the camera roughly one mile and then come back out, slowly gaining altitude. You can see the westbound manifest on the left, exiting the canyon. Note the substantial difference in elevation between the tracks to the right and the tracks to the left. A little fall foliage at the base of the canyon is just an added bonus.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113207
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP DS144 (West Volcano)
Routt County, CO
43
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
At the west switch of Volcano, this westbound UP manifest is making its way from Bond to Phippsburg. Volcano was named after a now-extinct volcano here in the area. It is the longest siding between Bond and Phippsburg at 7,470 feet. 20 years ago when multiple coal trains ran each day through here, Volcano was the only siding between Bond and Phippsburg long enough to accommodate meets.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113208
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Tunnel 49 (MP 144.1, 299')
Routt County, CO
24
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
This 70-car manifest on the Craig Branch is leaving Volcano behind and is approaching the east portal of Tunnel 49.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113209
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Volcano to Toponas (MP 143.6 to MP 151.3)
Routt County, CO
27
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Just around the corner from Tunnel 49, this once-weekly manifest has completed most of the steepest parts of the climb between Bond and Phippsburg.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113210
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Bond to Dell (MP 130.8 to MP 141.1)
Eagle County, CO
45
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Glenwood Springs (UP) Amtrak
The afternoon Zephyr is running about an hour late as it crosses over Yarmony Creek at the east end of the Glenwood Springs Subdivision, just west of the west switch of Bond.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113211
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Dell (7,430 ft)
Eagle County, CO
25
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Glenwood Springs (UP) Amtrak
Now here is something I definitely did not expect to find in the siding at Dell! A single Amtrak P42DC. Unfortunately, the eastbound Zephyr the day before struck a vehicle not far west of here on the Dotsero Cutoff. For safety reasons, the unit was set out here in the siding at Dell.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113212
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Dell (7,430 ft)
Eagle County, CO
29
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Glenwood Springs (UP) Amtrak
AMTK 205 was involved in a collision with a vehicle the day prior to this photo. As a result, for safety reasons, the unit was set out here in the siding at Dell. There is also another P42DC currently in the siding at Newcastle west of Glenwood from a similar incident.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113213
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Dell (7,430 ft)
Eagle County, CO
35
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Glenwood Springs (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer has backup unit RMRX 8600 leading the train west this afternoon on the main track at Dell.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113214
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Dell (7,430 ft)
Eagle County, CO
32
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Glenwood Springs (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
Fall colors are still near their peak here at the siding of Dell as the Rocky Mountaineer heads west on the main track. Dell is one of two sidings on the 36-mile Dotsero Cutoff between Bond and Dotsero.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113215
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Dell (7,430 ft)
Eagle County, CO
37
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Glenwood Springs (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
As the Rocky Mountaineer heads west on the main track at Dell, we notice an odd sight as a single Amtrak P42DC (AMTK 205) sits on the siding. It was setout here after striking a vehicle to the west the day before. As a result, this means the siding of Range is the only siding on the 36-mile Dotsero cutoff!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Photo ID: 113216
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Dell to Range (MP 142.6 to MP 154.3)
Eagle County, CO
39
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Glenwood Springs (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is in Red Canyon between Dell and Range, crossing over the Colorado River in fantastic afternoon lighting.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Previous Page     Next Page

Check out ColoradoRailfan.com on Facebook
Check out the latest ColoradoRailfan.com photos on Flickr

ColoradoRailfan.com Email Subscription
To receive updates made to ColoradoRailfan.com via Email, Click Here.

The D&RGW Site Ring
This site owned by: Kevin Morgan
Add Your Site

SiteRing by Bravenet.com

SiteRing by Bravenet.com

All content ©2000,2025 by Kevin Morgan, except where noted. Please do not use any material from this site without permission. Thank You.