Photo ID: 110929 Date Shot Photo By Monday, August 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 261 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak This unit is the reason I went out for a few shots of the Zephyr this morning. There is nothing particularly special about this P42DC when you look at it. So why did I make the effort to get a shot? I am trying to get shots of as many of Amtrak's P42DCs before they are inevitably retired. AMTK 140 was one of 41 units I had not yet shot (out of 207 total units). With this shot, only 40 left to try to get shots of. Alas, some I will never get as a few have been wrecked and/or retired for other reasons. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110928 Date Shot Photo By Monday, August 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 289 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr knocks down a clear (green) signal at the east end of Rocky. To the right, in UP's dirt parking lot, there are number of MOW vehicles, including a bus, that dropped off a huge gang of workers at o-dark-thirty the night before. The gang powered up a bunch of MOW rail vehicles that were tied down in the siding at Rocky and, at 3:30am, headed west! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110919 Date Shot Photo By Friday, August 16, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 22 (MP 33.0, 164 ft) Boulder County, CO 218 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak In the middle of the upper Tunnel District, the westbound Zephyr passes in and out of Tunnel 22, one of the shorter tunnels in the district at 164 feet in length. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110918 Date Shot Photo By Friday, August 16, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Crescent to Cliff (MP 31.8 to MP 36.7) Boulder County, CO 259 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr is running right on time as it leaves Crescent behind and approaches the east portal of Tunnel 19. Off in the distance, you can see the dam that has created Gross Reservoir. This is one of the main water sources for the City of Denver. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110917 Date Shot Photo By Friday, August 16, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS032 (West Crescent) Boulder County, CO 206 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr rounds the bend at the west end of Crescent. The train will pass through a cut before reaching Tunnel 19. The cut is protected along the sides and even over the top by a slide fence. If rocks fall, the wires will help deflect them from the track. If the rocks are large enough to break through the fence, signals will automatically drop to red, the dispatcher is informed, and an automated message is broadcast over the radio on the road channel. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110916 Date Shot Photo By Friday, August 16, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 258 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr emerges from around the bend, from the west end of Eisele (Clay). Behind the Zephyr is wide open plains for hundreds of miles. The Zephyr is approaching the grade crossing at Blue Mountain Drive. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110910 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, August 15, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 315 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) AMTK 170 The westbound Zephyr is approaching a red signal at the west end of Eisele (Clay) on the siding. The oil train on the main is too long to fit between switches, and is waiting for the a clear signal at the east end to proceed east. Once the train clears the west switch, DS-380 will get the Zephyr a light to continue west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110907 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, August 15, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay)) Arvada, CO 318 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The siding at Eisele (Clay) has weight restrictions on it, which prohibits loaded unit trains - such as oil trains - from operating on the siding. So, the oil train holds the main and the westbound Zephyr runs through the siding on its way west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110906 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, August 15, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 273 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Three trains in one frame, all three of them facing geographically south. However, two of them (the Zephyr and the oil train to the right) are headed west. The oil train to the left is headed east, waiting for the Zephyr to show up. Busy morning on the Moffat! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110905 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, August 15, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 316 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak After arriving in Denver, it was discovered that the Zephyr had an air leak. The decision was made to swap the P42DCs around. AMTK 170 had been the trailing unit upon arriving. After a couple hours of swapping units around, AMTK 170 became the leader and the train departed west. Here, the train passes by empty tank cars and sunflowers on the trip west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110896 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS025 (West Plain) Jefferson County, CO 341 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak At the west switch of Plain, the ledge narrows and the Zephyr heads toward the east portal of Tunnel 2 as it starts its journey into the heart of the Tunnel District. The UP oil train on the siding will have to wait a bit longer as an eastbound is at Crescent, waiting on the Zephyr. This oil train will have to wait on that eastbound before it is its turn to head west. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110895 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS025 (West Plain) Jefferson County, CO 382 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A UP oil train sits on the siding at Plain as a four hour late Zephyr overtakes the train on the main. Severe weather in the mid-west was responsible for delays to the Zephyr. The oil train just barely fit in the siding. Not how close to the signal the lead unit is. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110894 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS024 (East Plain) Arvada, CO 354 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak At the east end of Plain, the westbound Zephyr is overtaking an empty UP oil train, sitting in the siding. The oil train fit in the siding by less than one car. If there had been one more tank car on the train, it would not have fit! You can see how close the end DPU is to the signal at the east end. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110893 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 296 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Afternoon clouds are starting to roll across the mountains and out onto the Plains. Meanwhile, the Zephyr, cast in shadows, is four hours late as it heads west on the main at Rocky. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 110884 Date Shot Photo By Monday, August 12, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 3 (MP 25.8, 369 ft) Jefferson County, CO 255 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Tunnels 2 through 7 sit on the edge of the Rockies with a spectacular view of the plains (behind the camera). The tracks move (roughly) geographically north here, working their way from Coal Creek Canyon to South Boulder Canyon. At Tunnel 8, the tracks take a hard left and dive into the Rockies. Passengers on the Zephyr this morning are enjoying the views. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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