Photo ID: 113595 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 19 (MP 32.1, 1,059 ft) Boulder County, CO 245 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific The project to increase the height of Gross Reservoir is nearly completion, as you can see in the distance. In the foreground, we've got an extremely long westbound coal empty, led by a pair of CSX units and a newly painted UP C44ACM. CSX 1981 is one of 21 heritage units CSX has painted up, honoring the railroads that have gone in to making CSX. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113594 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 169 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific This is the longest train I've ever personally seen on the Moffat. The train is effectively two coal empties stuck together into one. Behind the three lead units (including a pair of CSX ES44AHs) is 105 cars. Then, there are three mid-train DPUs (hidden behind the hill at Big Ten). Behind those three mid-train DPUs is another 104 cars. The train is 11,500 feet long. When the head end reaches East Plain, the tail end will just be passing West Eisele (Clay)! At that length, there are only two sidings between Denver and Grand Junction in which the train could fit between switches: Allen in Glenwood Canyon (at 14,250 feet), and Palisade just east of Grand Junction (at 12,200 feet). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113593 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 148 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Three mid-train swing helpers, including a Tier-4 SD70ACe-T4, are roughly 105 cars deep in a 209 car coal empty that is making its way west to Grand Junction. The train is basically two coal trains combined, and they will split in Grand Junction, running to the mine at West Elk individually. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113592 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 177 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific A trio of elephant-style GEs, including CSX 1981 (on the point), lead the longest train on the Moffat that I've ever personally seen. The train is 11,500 feet long! Basically, two coal trains combined into one. 209 cars, three units on the point, three mid-train swing helpers. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113591 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 152 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific Alas, the clouds were out in force this morning, so the shutter speed was a bit low on this telephoto shot of CSX 1981, the Pan Am Railways heritage unit, lead a westbound coal empty at Rocky. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113590 Date Shot Photo By Monday, March 23, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 163 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) CSX, Union Pacific A bit of a surprise on the Moffat this morning, as a pair of CSX units (and a UP unit) lead a westbound coal empty. Even more surprising was CSX 1981 on the point. Along with Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak, CSX has a "heritage unit" program. The lead unit is the heritage unit for Pan Am Railways. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113576 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 167 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The thrice-weekly MGJNY, with seven units on the point (including a GP40-2) heads east on the main track at Leyden. The train has been moving along at 10 MPH since Plain, due to high winds in the area. However, it will be able to pick up a little more speed after departing Leyden, for the remaining 8 miles or so to North Yard. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113575 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 154 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It has taken nearly an hour for UP's MGJNY to get from Plain to down Leyden. It has been moving along at an average speed of about 10 miles per hour due to high winds. The train has a relatively low "blow over" speed. Consequently, the train has been moving along very slowly, to minimize any potential derailment. Fortunately, everything was totally fine for the train. Nearly all the structures in this frame were built within the last 25 years as the suburb of Arvada continues to expand to the west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113574 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 138 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A former Southern Pacific GP40-2 is due for its 92-day inspection. It has been serving in Grand Junction, in the yard and/or on locals. With the closure of engine facilities in Denver, the unit will have to be forwarded on to North Platte for its inspection. This morning, it is deadheading on the head end of the MGJNY. The unit was originally delivered to Espee in February 1978. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113573 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 162 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific UP's MGJNY descended the first half of the east slope of the Moffat quite early this morning. However, the train has a relatively low "blow over" speed, meaning it is highly susceptible to high winds. It has been a morning of high winds, in excess of 55 MPH, on Big Ten. So, DS-378 held the manifest here in the siding at Plain. The wind speeds have died down, and it is time to slowly continue in to Denver. The train is around 7,000 feet long, and has a lot of power on the head end. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113558 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, March 15, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Fraser to Tabernash (MP 63 to MP 65) Grand County, CO 156 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific After some fresh snow fell overnight, a westbound UP coal empty kicks up some of the new powder along the right-of-way between Fraser and Tabernash. I always enjoy this perspective as the ski runs at the Winter Park Ski Resort stand out strong in the background. The train is approach a green signal at the east end of Tabernash. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113557 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, March 15, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Winter Park to Fraser (MP 58 to MP 62) Grand County, CO 213 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Three UP units lead a coal empty through the winding rails around the town of Winter Park. The train is approaching the grade crossing of Vasquez Road. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113556 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, March 15, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS058 (West Winter Park) Grand County, CO 171 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A nice surprise for a Sunday afternoon was this westbound Union Pacific coal empty. The train is headed for the West Elk Mine on the North Fork Branch. It seems that West Elk has increased coal production, as coal traffic on the Moffat has slightly increased. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113546 Date Shot Photo By Saturday, March 14, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Moffat Tunnel (West Portal) Grand County, CO 192 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak, Union Pacific A seen that has change a lot over the years, and yet, at the same time, is timeless. For nearly a century, trains have passed through the scene, running through the 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel under the Continental Divide. The eastbound Zephyr, with a borrowed UP C44ACM, pass by the platform at the Winter Park Ski Resort, ready for 10-12 minutes of darkness ahead. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113545 Date Shot Photo By Saturday, March 14, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tabernash (9,830 ft) Grand County, CO 166 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak, Union Pacific The siding at Tabernash is pretty unique as the main and siding follow very different grades. There are even some privately-owned homes on land between the main and the siding! During the height of the coal era, about 20 years ago, it was quite common to find an eastbound coal load tied down on the main at Tabernash, with other traffic running through the siding. This is because there is a grade crossing on the siding at Tabernash. A coal train tied down would block access to those homes between the two tracks. But now, it is wide open sailing on the main for the eastbound Zephyr. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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