A westbound coal empty, which I shot about five hours earlier down on Bypass 2 at Pecos, is now headed west in the siding at Rocky. It will meet an eastbound BNSF oil train, which is just about to knock down the signal at the west end, just out of view of the camera.
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The three mid-train swing helpers that were just cut out of an eastbound coal load are waiting for a light at the signal bridge at Utah Junction. The units will be taken into North Yard to be fueled and serviced.
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Two crew members working to put a coal load back together on Bypass 1 give a wave to their colleagues on the westbound coal empty arriving on Bypass 2. After stopping at C&S, the inbound crew on this coal empty will pull the two units off the train and take them into the yard to pick up three additional units. The outbound crew will then take the five units back to the train later this afternoon.
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Quite a bit of action is happening here at the Pecos Crossover right now, particularly for a Sunday afternoon. UP 8134 leads a westbound coal empty onto Bypass 2. The crew on a coal load on Bypass 1 is working to put the train back together after cutting out the mid-train swing helpers. And, those exact mid-train swing helpers are on Main 3 in the distance, being taken to the engine tracks in North Yard.
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At C&S Junction (when heading east), the tracks go from two main tracks, to three main tracks and the North Yard Siding. In this shot, this eastbound coal load is on Main 1 (also called Bypass 1). The North Yard Siding is the track closed to the camera.
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An ES44AC and an ET44AC lead an eastbound coal train across Clear Creek here at C&S Junction (CP DS005) on Main 1. The train, which loaded at West Elk Mine on the North Fork branch, will have its three mid-train swing helpers removed before departing east.
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This eastbound coal load is on Main 1 after passing by a Diverging Advanced Approach (red over flashing yellow) signal. The train will stop with the mid-train swing helpers just short of the Pecos Crossover at CP DS004. There, the inbound crew and the outbound crew on the train will work together to cut the swing helpers out and put the train back together.
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This westbound coal empty had an Approach (yellow) signal at the east end of East Portal as the Moffat Tunnel was completing its venting cycle after the Zephyr came through. However, the venting finished right after the train passed the east end, and it now has a green at the west end to head into the 6.2-mile long tunnel.
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The valley that Tolland is located in is filled with a lot of deciduous trees, making it one of the most colorful spots on the east slope of the Moffat during fall. Late September is typically when the fall colors here around 9,000 feet hit their peak, and this year is no exception. A westbound coal empty with five units heads west.
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A single DPU brings up the end of this eastbound coal load just east of Tolland. Clouds in the area have been passing through the area, creating more of a dramatic scene here with the train disappearing into the shadows.
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The head end of an eastbound coal load crosses over South Boulder Creek as the train leaves Tolland and the Continental Divide behind. This is probably the best weekend to get some fall color shots here in the Colorado high county.
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This eastbound coal load has a green signal at the east end of Tolland is about to head back out onto the main to continue east. It will meet another westbound at Rollins, but then have a straight shot the rest of the way into Denver.
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The view along Tolland here, with the Continental Divide, never gets old! No matter the time of year, it is a great spot, but fall color season is just icing on the cake. This eastbound coal load is coming from the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch.
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An eastbound coal load rolls through the siding at Tolland, dodging some clouds in the area near the Continental Divide. The coal train is just running in and out of the siding after meeting the Zephyr, which is waiting on the main. You can just see the end Zephyr in the distance beyond the grade crossing.
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UP 5281 leads an eastbound coal load, approaching the grade crossing at East Portal. The westbound Zephyr is holding at Tolland, waiting on the arrival of the train. Due to the steep grade at Winter Park, the coal train could not be held there. Fortunately, the delay to the Zephyr would only be about 25 minutes.
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