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Photo ID: 113588
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rocky (7,330ft)
Arvada, CO
34
(1 Comment Posted)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr just passed by some maintenance equipment in the siding and house track at Rocky. The Zephyr is about 25 minutes late this morning. UP's yard transfer between BNSF's 31st Street Yard and UP's North Yard was temporarily blocking the Zephyr down at Prospect Jct.
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Photo ID: 113589
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
33
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
AMTK 164, the Phase 4 heritage unit, is likely the most common heritage unit to run on the Zephyr (and over the Moffat). I think I've seen this one way more often than the Phase 1 through 3 heritage units. In any case, it is leading the Zephyr west around Big Ten Curve this morning, along with AMTK 23.
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Photo ID: 113590
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rocky (7,330ft)
Arvada, CO
32
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
A bit of a surprise on the Moffat this morning, as a pair of CSX units (and a UP unit) lead a westbound coal empty. Even more surprising was CSX 1981 on the point. Along with Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak, CSX has a "heritage unit" program. The lead unit is the heritage unit for Pan Am Railways.
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Photo ID: 113591
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rocky (7,330ft)
Arvada, CO
29
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
Alas, the clouds were out in force this morning, so the shutter speed was a bit low on this telephoto shot of CSX 1981, the Pan Am Railways heritage unit, lead a westbound coal empty at Rocky.
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Photo ID: 113592
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
39
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
A trio of elephant-style GEs, including CSX 1981 (on the point), lead the longest train on the Moffat that I've ever personally seen. The train is 11,500 feet long! Basically, two coal trains combined into one. 209 cars, three units on the point, three mid-train swing helpers.
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Photo ID: 113593
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
35
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Three mid-train swing helpers, including a Tier-4 SD70ACe-T4, are roughly 105 cars deep in a 209 car coal empty that is making its way west to Grand Junction. The train is basically two coal trains combined, and they will split in Grand Junction, running to the mine at West Elk individually.
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Photo ID: 113594
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
35
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
This is the longest train I've ever personally seen on the Moffat. The train is effectively two coal empties stuck together into one. Behind the three lead units (including a pair of CSX ES44AHs) is 105 cars. Then, there are three mid-train DPUs (hidden behind the hill at Big Ten). Behind those three mid-train DPUs is another 104 cars. The train is 11,500 feet long. When the head end reaches East Plain, the tail end will just be passing West Eisele (Clay)! At that length, there are only two sidings between Denver and Grand Junction in which the train could fit between switches: Allen in Glenwood Canyon (at 14,250 feet), and Palisade just east of Grand Junction (at 12,200 feet).
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Photo ID: 113595
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Tunnel 19 (MP 32.1, 1,059 ft)
Boulder County, CO
42
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific
The project to increase the height of Gross Reservoir is nearly completion, as you can see in the distance. In the foreground, we've got an extremely long westbound coal empty, led by a pair of CSX units and a newly painted UP C44ACM. CSX 1981 is one of 21 heritage units CSX has painted up, honoring the railroads that have gone in to making CSX.
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Photo ID: 113596
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Crescent to Cliff (MP 31.8 to MP 36.7)
Boulder County, CO
58
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
A trio of UP units represent the halfway point on this monster coal empty. The train is 209 cars long, and is 11,500 feet long. Even though this is the halfway point of the train, over a mile of the train has already passed by.
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