Photo ID: 112790 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 331 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak This is an Amtrak Viewliner 2 car, order about 10 years ago. This particular version is a Baggage/Dorm car. It is a single level car used primarily on trains east of Chicago. It is headed west on the Zephyr, for reasons unknown. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112789 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 356 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A pair of P42DCs leads the Zephyr westbound on the approach to East Portal. There were rumors about 20 years ago that Amtrak was going to add a second main track through here, connection East Portal and Tolland. With the downturn in coal traffic, that possibility has become something for the "ideas never implemented" book. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112788 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 328 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak At over 9,000 feet above sea level, the westbound Zephyr is just around the corner from the east switch of East Portal, where a clear (green) signal awaits it. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112787 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Cliff (6,900 ft) Boulder County, CO 276 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer The westbound Rocky Mountaineer crosses CO-72 at the east end of Cliff. Like so many siding, Cliff has a house track off the siding. The track is currently empty, but has about 1,000 feet of storage space, if it is needed. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112786 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS036 (East Cliff) Boulder County, CO 283 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer RMRX 8600 knocks down a clear (green) signal at the east switch of Cliff. The OS at the east switch of cliff is quite long, as there is a curve that obstructs the view. The eastbound signals are placed so they are visible from the grade crossing around the bend. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112785 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 29 (MP 36.4, 75 ft) Boulder County, CO 306 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer RMRX 8020 is currently in North Yard for some mechanical work, so the blue long term lease unit, RMRX 8600, was brought out to lead the Rocky Mountaineer this morning. The train is just existing Tunnel 29 (out of sight around the bend), headed for the east switch of Cliff. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112784 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 381 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The Zephyr includes an Amfleet car, which is typically used in the Northeast corridor and eastern routes. It also includes a Viewliner car, typically used on eastbound trains out of Chicago, and a single level sleeper car. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112783 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 361 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr charges west on the main at Eisele (Clay), meeting an eastbound BNSF Provo-Denver, waiting patiently in the siding. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112782 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 417 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF One of the relatively few Tier 4 units on BNSF's roster, an ET44C4, leads BNSF's Provo-Denver in the siding at Eisele (Clay). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112781 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 413 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) BNSF BNSF's daily Provo-Denver manifest is sitting in the siding at Eisele (Clay), waiting on the Zephyr, which is just minutes away on Big Ten Curve. After the Zephyr, the train will continue east to Denver. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112780 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 336 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak As the California Zephyr wraps around the north edge of Big Ten Curve, west of Rocky, you can see an eastbound BNSF manifest sitting in the siding at Eisele (Clay). The manifest already met the Rocky Mountaineer, and is waiting on the Zephyr next. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112779 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 327 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr is transporting three additional cars this morning, ahead of the baggage car, as the train rolls west at Rocky. Overcast skies allowed for some good shots from the "opposite" side of the tracks, which would normally be case in the shadows. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112738 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 354 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The morning Zephyr climbs the north edge of Big Ten Curve, running about two hours late. UP's service road that runs parallel to the track is in very good condition right now, after UP brought quite a bit of heavy equipment up here a little over a month ago for a re-enforcement / construction project on Big Ten. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112737 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 299 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak UP's track gang, which is working on replacing ties at the east switch of Rocky, has cleared the tracks to allow the morning Zephyr to creep through at 15 MPH. The foreman of the track gang has established was is known as a Form B. A Form B has starting and ending limits, and when active, a "red board", which is literally a red square board on a pole, is placed trackside. Trains are not allowed to pass the red board, regardless of block signals, or even dispatcher permission, without getting permission from the track foreman to enter the limits. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 112736 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 292 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Looking down on the east switch of Rocky, you can see this track gang working to replace some old ties by sliding new ties underneath the rails. Sometimes, it take a little effort, and the bulldozer has to move the tied back and forth, almost hammering it underneath. Looks like the radio channel sign, which changes from 54/54 to 23/23 for westbound trains here are Rocky, is laying on the ground to the side of the rails. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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