The Moffat can truly be feast or famine, and more often than not it seems like it is famine. However, such was not the case on this particularly Sunday as there were seven trains running in the Colorado high country! I got shots of all but one (the eastbound Zephyr), with this westbound UP oil train being the final one. The train is just west of Little Gore, on the approach to Radium.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
It's been a heck of a chase, going after this eastbound coal load with a pair of Canadian National units on the tail end. This would be the final view of it as it disappears into the west end of Gore Canyon, Tunnel 36 and 35 just ahead. You can see a pair of mid-train swing helpers just ahead, in between those two tunnels.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of Canadian National units bring up the tail end of an eastbound loaded coal train, getting ready to disappear into Tunnel 39 at the east end of Little Gore Canyon. This time of year, the Colorado River is just about at it lowest.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
In the middle of Little Gore Canyon, an eastbound UP coal load is in between Tunnel 40 and Tunnel 39. Little Gore Canyon is a relatively short canyon, but it is also one of the narrowest and most impressive canyons on the Moffat.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The lighting is not fantastic for this shot, but the perspective is a mighty interesting one! You can see both the head end and tail end of this eastbound coal train. Three UP units lead and a pair of CN units bring up the rear.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After meeting two trains at Bond, the eastbound coal train is finally on the move on the main track. Two Canadian National DPUs bring up the tail end of the train along the Colorado River just east of Yarmony.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An SD70ACe and a C44ACM sit on a 12-car train, tied down in one of the yard tracks at Bond. The train is the MBOPH, essentially a local that shuttles cars between Phippsburg and Bond. The train usually heads up the Craig Branch on Sundays. However, there are no rested crews available today, so the train will sit until one is available.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
This eastbound coal load just got a new crew here at Bond and is has started pulling eastbound toward Denver. Ultimately, the train will continue on to an interchange point to the east with Canadian National.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Going for a little bit of a water reflection shot here at a standing pool of water on the opposite side of the tracks from the Colorado River. A pair of CN units are bringing up the tail end of this eastbound coal load.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
After meeting the westbound Zephyr here at (West) Bond, a new crew on the train is getting ready to start rolling east. It will continue through Center Bond (Orestod) on the siding to meet a westbound BNSF Denver-Provo.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
At the west end of Bond, an eastbound coal load is taking the siding for a crew change. The relief crew will be called at Yampa at 11:45am, and the Grand Junction based crew currently on this train will have to wait in the meantime.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
I've never been to the Canadian Rockies, but it certainly seems as though this shot could have taken somewhere in Canada with this pair of Canadian National units on the train, crossing over the Colorado River just west of the west switch of Bond.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An eastbound coal load emerges from the 647-foot long Yarmony Tunnel near the west switch of Bond. The train crosses the Colorado River right here at the east portal of the tunnel. Of note, UP 6392 is a former Espee unit. SP 346, to be exact.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The leaves are all gone from the tree at the mid-point of November. However, there isn't a trace of snow yet here at Dell, which is rather uncommon at this point at the start of the winter season. A pair of CN units are DPUs on an eastbound coal load.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A pair of Canadian National units bring up the tail end of an eastbound coal load. As if the CN units are not interesting enough, they also both have DC traction motors. Rather rare on unit trains in 2025. The train here is following the Colorado River at Dell.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
