In the foreground (to the right), you can see the main and siding at Plain. However, in the distance, center frame, you can see the headlights of the eastbound Canyon Spirit as it emerges from Tunnel 4.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Just east of Plain, the eastbound Canyon Spirit is on the move and approaching Tunnel 1. Way off in the distance, you can see the Valmont Power Station. The power plant shut down its last coal generator in 2017. It now has solar arrays onsite, and a natural gas generator that can provide 70 MW during peak demands. Although you cannot see it, the BNSF Front Range Sub runs right by the reservoir.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Canyon Spirit rolls by the new Canyon Pines neighborhood, annexed by the City of Arvada about a decade ago. While roads are all complete for the neighborhood, no construction on any houses has actually started yet. The Canyon Spirit is coming up to the west portal of Tunnel 1. Eventually, a few houses will be located atop of Tunnel 1 (though north of the actual rails).
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Not sure if it was due to Union Pacific slow order, mechanical issues, or just a choice to provide passengers longer views, but the Canyon Spirit was rolling along at 12 MPH here just east of Tunnel 1. One of the great things about the Canyon Spirit is that passengers are allowed to actually open vestibule doors and look out. A practice that Amtrak banned years ago.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
One things that is not always immediately obvious when seeing shots of the nose of the GP40-3s on the Canyon spirit is that the shield/logo on the nose is not actually on the nose! It is a physical shield mounted ahead of the hand rails, above the anti-climber. You can clearly see it in this shot. The nose itself is just blue. Here, the Canyon Spirit is just east of Tunnel 1, descended toward the base of Coal Creek Canyon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Canyon Spirit crosses over CO-72 at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. You can see the east portal of Tunnel 1 in the top-right section of the shot.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The eastbound Canyon Spirit is just passing by the hotbox detector (HBD) at milepost 22.6. The detector will provide an audible readout of information, including the number of recorded axles, train speed, and outdoor temperature. It would reveal that the train is slowly meandering along at 12 MPH.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The last shot of the day for me came here at Blue Mountain Drive as the Canyon Spirit passes by, headed east toward Denver. This is the sixth season the train has been running over the Moffat now, and, based on their website, it looks like 2026 should be a pretty good season once again.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
