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Photo ID: 112648
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP DS019 (West Rocky)
Arvada, CO
29
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
After meeting a Provo-Denver here at Rocky, the Zephyr has already accelerated back up to track speed as it blasts through the OS at the west end of Rocky. Union Pacific gives IDs to all control points, in addition to names. As you can see, the control point ID here at West Rocky is "CP DS019". The "DS" comes from "Denver and Salt Lake", David Moffat's railroad that built the line well over a century ago.
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Photo ID: 112647
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9)
Arvada, CO
37
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
AMTK 147 and AMTK 194 lead the westbound Zephyr on the main at Rocky as two DPUs pass by the P42s on the tail end of an eastbound BNSF Provo-Denver. The dispatcher set up a really good meet here, and neither train ultimately had to stop. This is referred to as a "rolling meet".
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Photo ID: 112646
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9)
Arvada, CO
33
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF
BNSF 5751 leads the Provo-Denver through Little Ten Curve in the siding at Rocky. The train is meeting the westbound California Zephyr, which is already between switches on the main behind the camera.
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Photo ID: 112645
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Barbara's Gulch (MP 15.9 to MP 17.2)
Arvada, CO
32
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr that departed Chicago on June 23rd had a late start. Unfortunately, it lost more time on its journey west toward Denver, and departed Denver a little over three hours late. Here, that train is coming up to an approach (yellow) signal at the east switch of Rocky. It will be meeting a BNSF Provo-Denver which is already in the block at the west end.
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Photo ID: 112644
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, June 23, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Crescent (5,550 ft)
Jefferson County, CO
48
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
UP is hauling their EC-5 track geometry car through the siding at Crescent. The geometry car assesses the rail geometry as it moves, ensuring compliance with FRA standards. It is also a preventative maintenance tool to look for damage. The car uses laser systems and vehicle/track interaction (V/TI) systems to perform its work.
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Photo ID: 112643
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, June 23, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Crescent (5,550 ft)
Jefferson County, CO
45
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
UP 7232 is heading west through the siding at Crescent, hauling UP's EC-5 track geometry car. The train is slowly heading west and will stop at the west end of Crescent and wait for the Zephyr to overtake the work train.
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Photo ID: 112642
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, June 23, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP DS030 (East Crescent)
Jefferson County, CO
43
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
An C44ACM, rebuilt from an AC4400CW, is the sole unit on a short work train that includes UP's EC-5 track geometry car. The car used to be self-propelled, but now requires it be pulled by a locomotive.
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Photo ID: 112641
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, June 23, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Plain (6,530 ft)
Jefferson County, CO
47
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific
Five UP maintenance workers are walking the rails between Tunnel 2 and Tunnel 3, checking for defects. They found several tie plates that needed to be replaced, and marked them accordingly for a maintenance crew that will come out of Plain and replace them.
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Photo ID: 112640
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, June 23, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Plain (6,530 ft)
Jefferson County, CO
39
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
While the east half of Plain is one of the most commonly photographed portions of the east side of the Moffat, the west half is likely one of the least photographed portions as it is quite remote. Here, the Zephyr has come to a stop on the main at the west end of Plain. Passengers are going to have to be patient and wait for about 90 minutes for some track plate repairs to take place between Tunnel 2 and Tunnel 3.
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Photo ID: 112639
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, June 23, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Rainbow Cut
Jefferson County, CO
44
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr enters the short (and aptly named) Rainbow Cut, about halfway through Plain. You can see red, yellow, and blue hues very clearly in the rock. The train here is moving quite slowly as there is a red signal at the west end of the block.
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Photo ID: 112638
Date Shot
Photo By
Monday, June 23, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Plain (6,530 ft)
Arvada, CO
46
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
The westbound Zephyr is slowly heading west on the main track at Plain, overtaking a maintenance vehicle on the siding. The Zephyr had an approach (yellow) signal at the east switch, and will be coming a stop at a red signal at the west end. UP found a few tie plates west of Tunnel 2 that need to be replaced before another train runs over the rails, so the Zephyr will be stopped for about 90 minutes, waiting.
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Photo ID: 112637
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, June 20, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Kipling (MP 9.8)
Arvada, CO
28
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
A look at the Rocky Mountaineer as it rolls east at a clear (green) signal at Kipling Street. The Denver skyline stands tall in the distance. After arriving at Denver Union Station, passengers will deboard, and the train will have tomorrow (Saturday) off. The next trip west will depart Sunday morning.
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Photo ID: 112636
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, June 20, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
72nd Avenue (MP 10.23)
Arvada, CO
35
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
This is a scene that, eventually, is going to be changing quite significantly. In November 2018, voters in the City of Arvada approved a measure to widen 72nd Avenue and create a grade separate with the tracks here. The project was originally slated to be completed in 2024. However, significant delays have been incurred, and now the project is expected to be completed in 2028. Apparently, the delays are largely due to design conversations with Union Pacific. On this June day, the Rocky Mountaineer crosses the still-two-lane 72nd Avenue at the still-in-existence grade crossing.
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Photo ID: 112635
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, June 20, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Arvada to Leyden (MP 7.5 to MP 11.9)
Arvada, CO
28
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
According to some thermometers in the area, the temperature outside is a scorching 101°F (38°C) as the Rocky Mountaineer rolls east through Arvada between Simms Street and 72nd Avenue. One of the RM GP40-3s is current down for maintenance, so RMRX 8600 (leased SD40M-2) is leading the train.
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Photo ID: 112634
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, June 20, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Crescent (5,550 ft)
Jefferson County, CO
28
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak
On a beautiful June morning, the westbound Zephyr is on the main near the east end of Crescent.
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