A single DPU, facing into the train, brings up the tail end of this eastbound MGJNY in Arvada. This particular unit has been rebuilt as a C44ACM, but was in fact originally delivered to UP as an AC4400CW in September 1996.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This eastbound train might look like a coal train, but in fact it is UP's MGJNY (manifest). These IPPX hoppers have likely been stuck in long term storage either somewhere in the Grand Junction yard, or in a siding in the Utah desert. Where are they headed now? Not sure...
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A C44ACM and an AC4400CW lead the MGJNY through the cut in Arvada between Carr Street and 66th Avenue. The first unit was recently rebuilt at UP's North Little Rock shops. UP 6410 was originally SP 327, delivered in scarlet and gray in July 1995.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP's thrice weekly manifest, the MGJNY, is crossing 66th Avenue in Arvada. The train has a handful of covered hoppers, followed by at least a full trainset of empty coal hoppers.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
From a railfan "keeping an eye on the rails when I can" perspective, it seems as though UP has been running more trains on the Moffat lately. Note only has there seemingly been an slight uptick in oil train traffic, but I have noticed several coal trains run on the Moffat in the last 10 days as well. Here, an eastbound oil train, with three GEs on the point, is approaching the west end of Leyden.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An eastbound UP oil train rounds the curve that will take it to a clear (green) signal at the west end of Leyden. If you look closely, you can spot the trio of DPUs that have been cut in to the train, roughly 2/3s of the way back.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This GP40-2 (now designated as a GP40N after UP did some rebuilding) is no stranger to these rails! It has been roaming on the Moffat off and on for 53 years! It was delivered to Rio Grande as DRGW 3105 in April 1972. Today, it is leading the West Local back toward North Yard with a string of 41 gondolas in tow.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A former Rio Grande GP40-2 (ex-DRGW 3105), now a UP GP40N, leads the West Local east at the intermediate at MP 9.8 on the way back toward North Yard. These 41 gondolas have been stored in the siding at Leyden for six months! With the local taking them back to town, the siding is finally available again for the dispatcher to use for meets.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
With the West Local airing up, about ready to return to Denver with a string of 41 gondolas that have been stored in the siding of Leyden for six months, the train will have to wait a little bit longer. A westbound UP coal empty charges west on the main track, a freshly painted C44ACM leading the way.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The engineer on the West Local is hanging out in the cab as the conductor walks back along the train, knocking off hand brakes on a strand of 41 gondolas.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
When I was a kid, I remember seeing "Rail Box" boxcars and "Rail Gon" gondolas. Rail Box boxcars are pretty rare in 2025, but you can definitely still find Rail Gon gondolas. One such example is one of 41 gondolas that have been tied down in the siding at Leyden for the past six months.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
While waiting for the dispatcher to flag the west local onto the siding at Leyden, here is a closeup look at the top of the cab of UP 1358. Note that it was last repainted at North Little Rock (NLR) on October 14, 2021.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The crew on the West Local is waiting patiently for DS-378 to throw the switch and flag them past a red signal into the siding at Leyden, against a strand of 41 gondolas in the siding.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A GP40N and a GP38N are power on the West Local. This is the first time the West Local has been called in months, save for about a week ago when it came out and picked up half the gondolas being stored at Leyden. Today, it has again been called to come out to Leyden and pick up the 41 remaining gondolas still tied down in storage at Leyden.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After six months of being tied down in the siding at Leyden, 41 gondolas are about to be taken back to Denver by the West Local. The conductor is adding the EOT (End Of Train) device to the end of the string of gondolas. The power for the local is waiting on the main. Note the rust that has gathered on the siding after six months of not being used.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
