Photo ID: 114384 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 26 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF MRL 4306 is the second unit of three on this eastbound oil train, descending down Big Ten Curve and approach an Approach (yellow over red) signal at west end of Rocky. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114383 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 22 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF There is a slight hint of a rainbow in the distance as an eastbound BNSF oil load descends Big Ten Curve. For a reason I did not catch on the scanner, DS-378 gave the train a 10 MPH slow order around Big Ten. I assume it was for winds from the storm that recently came through, though the winds were relatively calm at this point. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114382 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Boulder County, CO 31 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF The sun just breaks through the clouds, offering some really nice light on the fall colors here at Tolland as a westbound BNSF oil empty approaches the west switch. The train has an Advanced Approach (flashing yellow) at the west end of Tolland as the Moffat Tunnel is still venting from a previous eastbound. However, the venting will be complete by the time the train reaching East Portal. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114381 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Boulder County, CO 24 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF After meeting an eastbound oil train at Rollins, this westbound train found a little bit of light as it approaches the grade crossing at Tolland. After meeting the Zephyr at Rollins, DS-378 gave the crew the option of waiting at Rollins for the eastbound oil train, or moving up to Tolland. The crew opted to wait at Rollins, likely to give the Moffat Tunnel time to vent by the time they made it up to the tunnel. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114380 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Boulder County, CO 26 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF From Rollins Pass, we can see an eastbound oil train on the main at East Portal, having just emerged from the Moffat Tunnel. Prior to the tunnel opening nearly a century ago, trains had to make the steep climb here up and over the Continental Divide. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114379 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Boulder County, CO 23 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF Following about an hour behind the eastbound Zephyr is this eastbound BNSF (loaded) oil train. The MRL SD70ACe was a nice treat to find on the train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114374 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Cliff (6,900 ft) Boulder County, CO 28 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF This westbound BNSF empty oil train is making its way through the siding at Cliff, moving away from CO-72 for the time being as it has crossed over South Boulder Creek. Fall colors are just about at their peak. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114373 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Cliff (6,900 ft) Boulder County, CO 31 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A westbound BNSF oil empty approaches the bridge midway through Cliff that crosses over South Boulder Creek. Fall colors are looking pretty good here at Cliff, right around 8,000 feet above sea level. A pine tree has partially fallen here on the bank of South Boulder Creek, creating an interesting dynamic in the scene. The train is in the siding to meet the eastbound Canyon Spirit, already out of Rollins. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114372 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 25 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF As seen from high above, a westbound BNSF oil empty approaches the east portal of Tunnel 1. The first of the 28 tunnels the train will pass through in the next 25 miles on its way to the Moffat Tunnel. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114371 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Coal Creek (MP 23) Arvada, CO 21 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF Just west of Blue Mountain and the hotbox detector at MP 22.6, we see a westbound BNSF oil train making its way through the S-curves at the base of Coal Creek Canyon. Near the top-left corner of the picture, you can see the east portal of Tunnel 1, which the train will reach in just a few minutes. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114370 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 24 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF For whatever reason, it has actually been awhile since I last caught a BNSF oil train on the Moffat. However, today was the day as I got this westbound oil train as it made its way through the curves at Blue Mountain. It is still sometimes surprising to me just how many BNSF units still have the Heritage 2 scheme. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114342 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS049 (East East Portal) Gilpin County, CO 46 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF After an accident in May took the Canyon Spirit GP40-3s out of service, the train borrowed a pair of UP SD70Ms for power. Over the summer, PTC was installed in the SD40M-2 (SD45 car body), so the Spirit now only requires a single UP SD70M to assist. UP 4073 currently has the assignment here at the east end of East Portal. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114341 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS050 (West East Portal) Gilpin County, CO 40 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF The Provo-Denver has emerged from the Moffat Tunnel. I was a little surprised to find eight units on the head end of the manifest. Most of the units were not online, so not sure why they were being transported. As you can see here, the fourth unit is a Norfolk Southern unit. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114340 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Moffat Tunnel (MP 50.2, 6.2 miles) Gilpin County, CO 49 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF After meeting its counterpart at Winter Park, BNSF's Provo-Denver is about a mile away from the east end of the Moffat Tunnel. As part of the ventilation system for the tunnel, there is a large curtain that closes just inside the east portal of the tunnel. This prevent wind from working against the fans that vent the tunnel. It is always cool when an eastbound is approaching and the curtain opens, allowing for a view of the headlight off in the distance under the Continental Divide. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114339 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 44 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF Fall colors are kind of all over the place as a westbound Denver-Provo approaches the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel. September 20th is still a little early (on average) for fall colors to reach their peak here at 9,000-feet. The train will be the third train since sunrise to pass through the Moffat Tunnel. 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