Photo ID: 108645 Date Shot Photo By Friday, May 28, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 818 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A trio of "Evolution Series", Tier-3 units leads the eastbound Provo-Denver by the intermediate signal at Chemical on the way east toward Denver. The first two units are both ES44C4, which are A1A-A1A units. The third unit is an ES44DC, which is a C-C unit. An "A1A-A1A" unit is a six axle unit, but only four of the axles are powered with a traction motor. The middle axles on both trucks are "dummy" axles, and are unpowered. BNSF absolutely loves these units, having ordered over 1,300 copies since GE first unveiled them in 2009. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108644 Date Shot Photo By Friday, May 28, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 861 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A classic shot for eastbounds on the Moffat, no doubt! A trio of GEs lead the Provo-Denver by the intermediate signal at MP 14.6. Keen observers may notice that mile plate on the signal says 14.5, and you are correct. When going west, this intermediate is identified as 14.5, but when going east, it is identified as 14.6. Just keeps it unique and makes it obvious to anyone (dispatcher, MOW, etc) listening to the radio which direction the train is going, as well as where it is. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108643 Date Shot Photo By Friday, May 28, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay)) Arvada, CO 852 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF A longer-than-usual Provo-Denver manifest makes its way east out of Eisele and around and down Big Ten Loop. BNSF manifests on the Moffat usually have end DPUs, but it is less common to find mid-train DPUs on these trains. But if you look, you can find two mid-train DPUs just about to disappear behind the trees around Big Ten in the distance. This train is around 8,000 feet long. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108642 Date Shot Photo By Friday, May 28, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay)) Arvada, CO 842 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF BNSF 3267 is an ES44C4 that is not in the number of range of most of the ES44C4s on BNSF's roster. This is one of 50 units in this number range that were delivered as "Tier 4 credit units". BNSF used some emissions credits to purchase 50 ES44C4s after Tier 4 emissions requirements were in place. It is leading a huge Provo-Denver that is nearly 8,000 feet long, weighs around 12,000 tons, and has 123 cars in the train. The train is about to make the descent around Big Ten Curve down to Rocky. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108641 Date Shot Photo By Friday, May 28, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay)) Arvada, CO 750 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF An eastbound BNSF manifest passes by a Clear (green) signal at the east end of Eisele (formerly Clay) and slowly rolls on to the signal track that will take the train around Big Ten Loop and down to Rocky, which can be seen to the right of the frame. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108640 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Barbara's Gulch (MP 15.9 to MP 17.2) Arvada, CO 792 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF After meeting the Zephyr at Rocky, BNSF's Provo-Denver is leaving the siding and is rolling east through the west end of Barbara's Gulch. If you look closely, you might be able to see the Zephyr way back in the distance at Eisle (Clay). It is a small silver streak just to the right of Big Ten Loop. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108639 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 918 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr wraps around the east leg of Big Ten Loop alongside a sting of hoppers on the inside of the track. These hoppers were placed here around 50 years ago. They were filled with cement and dirt and the track they are on was severed from the main track. A few of the cars are even welded to the rails. These hoppers serve as a wind break. Winds can come rolling off the Rockies and straight across here at speeds of 70+ MPH (110+ KPH) at times. Prior to the wind break being put in place, one or two lighter trains derailed after being blown off the track! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108638 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 757 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak At the start of the S-Curve on the north side of Big Ten Loop, the westbound Zephyr climbs toward the wind break hoppers located on the inside of the curve atop Big Ten. These hoppers have now been here for 50 years, helping provide protection from trains from the 70+ MPH winds that can come swooping down off the mountains. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108637 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Barbara's Gulch (MP 15.9 to MP 17.2) Arvada, CO 1118 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Just east of Rocky, in Barbara's Gulch, the first westbound Zephyr to leave Denver on a Wednesday morning in almost eight months approaches a Clear (green) signal at the east end of Rocky. A lone car crosses over the tracks on CO-93, likely oblivious to the train passing underneath it. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108636 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 676 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A look at an Approach (yellow over red) signal at the east end of Rocky. The signal indicates that a westbound - in this case, the Zephyr - can proceed as far as the next signal at the west end of Rocky. At this point, the signals are not aligned further west because an eastbound BNSF Provo-Denver is making its way in to the siding at the west end. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108635 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 786 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF The eastbound Provo-Denver, with a trio of elephant-style GEs up front, makes its way through the S-Curves at Blue Mountain underneath morning clouds. If you look closely, you'll notice the two tail-end DPUs just coming out of the east portal of Tunnel 1. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108634 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 765 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF The eastbound Provo-Denver winds its way out the east end of Plain and through Tunnel 1 on its way east. There is a developer that wants to build a new neighborhood on the opposite side of the track from this shot. If it ever comes to fruition, it will mean houses built up to and on top of Tunnel 1! The project has had a couple of false starts, and appears to be stalled out, at least right now. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108633 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, May 25, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9) Arvada, CO 875 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The eastbound Zephyr wraps through the 10° curve of Little Ten Curve near the west end of Rocky. Up until the early 1980s, the west switch of Rocky as at the start of the curve to the left of the frame. At that point in time, there was only a single track wrapping around Little Ten Curve. However, the increased size of coal trains led to Rio Grande lengthening several sidings, including Rocky. The Zephyr glides through the curve on the main amidst a field of green under a blue sky filled with non-threatening clouds. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108632 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, May 25, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1321 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak It is the perfect evening to capture the return of the Zephyr to daily service in Denver. Running close to on time, the first eastbound Zephyr on a Tuesday in to Denver since last September descends down the northern leg of Big Ten Loop, turning toward the west switch of Rocky. A wet spring has created some fantastic green scenes around Denver. A great break from the typical dullish brown that tends to cover the landscape for 9-10 months out of the year. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 108631 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, May 25, 2021 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 1027 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The evening Zephyr slowly descends down the north leg of Big Ten Loop. The train is under a 10 MPH slow order that started at Plain and will continue down to Rocky. Great for me as that allowed me to get ahead of the train a couple of times for additional shots. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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