Photo ID: 114354 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 19 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A rather colorful coal train, with an assortment of various hoppers, heads east out of Rocky. The train only has 60 cars, and therefore has a trio of units on the point, and a single DPU bringing up the rear. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114353 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 27, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9) Arvada, CO 17 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A relatively short (60 car) coal load wraps its way through Little Ten Curve on the main track. Interestingly, the train symbol for this train (CWENY) shows it is only going as far as North Yard. Not sure why it is terminating there. I assume the train might be broken up and the coal sent to various customers. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114352 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden to Rocky (MP 13.4 to MP 17.4) Arvada, CO 35 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A pair of freshly painted (and likely freshly rebuilt) C44ACMs lead an UP officer's special east, just west of the west switch of Leyden. The train departed Fraser, CO about two hours ago, and has (among other folks), UP CEO Jim Vena on the train, enjoying the views the Moffat has to offer. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114351 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 38 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific On an overcast September afternoon, an eastbound UP officer's special rolls through the grade crossing at Blue Mountain. The train will change crews in Denver, and then immediately continue south on the Joint Line for Colorado Springs. The folks onboard, include CEO Jim Vena, are likely headed for the Broadmoor Hotel. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114350 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 41 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific An eastbound Union Pacific Officer's Special heads into the west portal of Tunnel 1. The train stayed in Fraser overnight, and this morning is headed to Colorado Springs. UP CEO Jim Vena, among others, is onboard the train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114348 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 37 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This westbound train has seven (yes, seven!) mid-train swing helpers. Looks like the days of Tennessee Pass! The reason for the power is because this is actually two trains, combined as one. As you can see, the second half of the train is a coal empty. To keep the general manifest cars moving, UP added them to the front of this coal empty, headed for Grand Junction. They did this so the manifest cars would not have to wait for the (regularly scheduled) MNYGJ. Most of this power will be used on the coal train after the train is split in Grand Junction. This type of train blocking is all the result of the theory known as Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR). A philosophy that Class 1 railroads in particular have really embraced. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114347 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 43 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This westbound is a monster train. By that, I mean that it is incredibly long. Between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. Turns out that the train is actually a coal train, but with a string of general manifest cars headed to Grand Junction. The UP powers that be did not want to wait for the normal MNYGJ, so they added the cars ahead of a coal train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114346 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 37 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This westbound manifest has a trio of elephant-style units on the head end, the first of which was originally SP 145, is on the main between Tolland and East Portal. Many of the trees here have already lost many of their leaves, likely do to their position on the hill side. Very open and susceptible to wind from the valley. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114345 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Gilpin County, CO 33 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific After meeting the Canyon Spirit, this westbound UP manifest is starting to accelerate toward an Advanced Approach (flashing yellow) signal at the west end of Tolland. The Moffat Tunnel is currently venting, so the train will have to stop for about 15 minutes before getting the signal to continue. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114332 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins (8,320 ft) Gilpin County, CO 34 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A UP SD40-2 is essentially "catching a ride" on an eastbound coal load. It is likely headed to North Platte, NE either for a 92-day inspection, or for repair. Kinda cool seeing it on a coal train, even if it is not working. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114331 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins (8,320 ft) Gilpin County, CO 33 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Four units are cut in as mid-train swing helpers on this eastbound coal load. One of the units may look a bit out of place! That fourth unit is indeed an SD40-2...not a sight you see on coal trains in 2026. In reality, this SD40-2 is not online. It is either due for inspection, or it is defective and in need of repair. Either way, rather than waiting for UP's thrice-weekly MGJNY, it looks like it was added to this coal train for convenience (and faster transportation). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114330 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins (8,320 ft) Gilpin County, CO 32 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A couple of steers are hanging out in the field along the Moffat Tunnel Sub where an eastbound coal load is stopped in the siding. Per the usual coal train arrangement, a single DPU is bringing up the rear. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114329 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins (8,320 ft) Gilpin County, CO 37 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This eastbound coal load is in the siding at Rollins, slowing to a stop at a red signal. It will be stuck here for about two hours. A westbound Denver-Provo went into emergency just west of Crescent and the conductor is walking the train. Once it starts moving again, the train will take the siding at Cliff and let the morning Zephyr pass by to meet the coal load here. Note that you can just see the single DPU on the back of the train in the distance. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114328 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins to Tolland (MP 41.2 to MP 45.8) Gilpin County, CO 33 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The West Elk Mine has been trying to get new contracts and up its production in recent months. It appears that it has, to some extent, been successful as more coal trains have returned to the Moffat. This eastbound coal load is following along South Boulder Creek between Tolland and Rollins. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114327 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 20, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins to Tolland (MP 41.2 to MP 45.8) Gilpin County, CO 37 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This is, without question, one of my favorite locations on the Moffat is here just east of Tolland where the track crosses over South Boulder Creek. On a beautiful, crisp September morning, a pair of UP GEs leads a loaded coal across the creek. Fall colors this year, so far, have been a bit more erratic than in most years. Some trees are at their peak, while others are still very green. Of note, UP 6290 was originally SP 244 when delivered in 1995. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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