Photo ID: 111353 Date Shot Photo By Monday, November 25, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 237 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak 90 minutes before this picture was taken, there was a thick layer of low clouds completely obscuring this view. The cold also contributed to a bit of frost that has formed on a lot of the foliage. The sun has now burned off the clouds as the morning Zephyr charges west on the main at Rocky alongside the house track. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111352 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 344 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The wind is only gusts to about 15 MPH right now. However, the forecast says there could be wind gusts of up to 40 MPH. Consequently, UP currently has a 10 MPH slow order around Big Ten Curve. The Zephyr is creeping along on the south end of Big Ten now, running about 10 minutes early. When departing Denver, the Zephyr usually has to realign some switches behind it. That was not the case today, allowing the train to get out of Denver quickly. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111351 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 372 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The morning Zephyr is actually running a few minutes early as it makes its way around the open hoppers serving as a wind break on Big Ten Curve. These hoppers have been here for over fifty years, and will likely remaining for decades...if not centuries...to come. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111350 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 441 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak As we continue to closer to the shortest day of the year, now about a month away, the tracks around Big Ten Curve are closer to being in the shadows in the morning as the Zephyr climbs westbound. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111349 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS016 (East Rocky) Arvada, CO 509 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak AMTK 170 and AMTK 82 leads the westbound Zephyr through a clear (green) signal at the east end of Rocky. AMTK 82 is, of course, sporting the new Phase 7 paint scheme. This is the first non-Phase 5 unit on the Zephyr in at least a couple of weeks. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111318 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, November 17, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 19 (MP 32.1, 1,059 ft) Boulder County, CO 357 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Just at the east portal of Tunnel 19, the westbound Zephyr crosses over a fill and prepares to start the upper end of the Tunnel District. In the distance, construction continues on the dam at Gross Reservoir. The dam is being raised by 131 feet to triple the capacity of the reservoir. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111317 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, November 17, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS032 (West Crescent) Boulder County, CO 285 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak At the west switch of Crescent, the westbound Zephyr appears from around the bend on the main track, knocking down a clear (green) signal. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111316 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, November 17, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0) Arvada, CO 430 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Two elephant-style P42DCs lead a typical Zephyr consist west on the climb toward Tunnel 1 from the base of Coal Creek Canyon. So far, no construction has started on any houses in the new Canyon Pines neighborhood, the main road for which is just visible along the top of the frame. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111315 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, November 17, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 296 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The morning Zephyr is just a little bit behind schedule as it crosses over Blue Mountain Drive. There is still a fair amount of snow on the ground here from multiple storms the week before that left nearly a foot of snow on the ground. Today, however, the temperature will climb to around 50°F (10°C), melting a bit more of the remaining snow. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111313 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, November 17, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Pecos X-Over to C&S Jct (MP 4.0 to MP 4.8) Denver, CO 397 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr is running about 20 minutes behind schedule this morning as it passes by a westbound oil empty that is in the process of preparing to depart west as well. The Zephyr is on Main 3 and has an Approach Diverging (yellow over yellow) signal at C&S. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111299 Date Shot Photo By Monday, November 11, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 9 (Daylighted) Boulder County, CO 338 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Looking over the top of Tunnel 8, we see the westbound Zephyr as it makes its way through what was once Tunnel 9. This tunnel was daylight decades ago, but the other tunnels were never renumbered. You can see the east portal of Tunnel 10 ahead, the next tunnel the Zephyr will actually pass through. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111298 Date Shot Photo By Monday, November 11, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 7 (MP 26.6, 214 ft) Boulder County, CO 268 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The pair of P42DCs leading the westbound Zephyr this morning kick up a bit of exhaust as the train emerges from Tunnel 7. This relatively short tunnel is the last tunnel from which a view of the plains is possible from both ends of the tunnel. Just ahead, the train will enter Tunnel 8 and curve into South Boulder Canyon. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111297 Date Shot Photo By Monday, November 11, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 6 (MP 26.4, 536 ft) Boulder County, CO 315 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The Zephyr is making its way deeper into the Tunnel District, emerging from Tunnel 5 and approach the east portal of Tunnel 6. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111296 Date Shot Photo By Monday, November 11, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 3 (MP 25.8, 369 ft) Jefferson County, CO 410 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak In between Tunnel 3 and Tunnel 4, the westbound Zephyr is creeping along at restricted speed. Right around 10 MPH (16 KPH). The train received a restricting signal at the west end of Plain and will continue at this speed until (at least) the east portal of Tunnel 10, the location of the next signal. The head end of AMTK 159 is just about to duck into Tunnel 4. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111295 Date Shot Photo By Monday, November 11, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS025 (West Plain) Jefferson County, CO 351 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr had an approach (yellow over red) signal at the east end of Plain. Upon reaching the west end, they discovered they had a restricting (flashing red) at the west end. I'm not sure why that was the case, but the train will have to proceed west at restricted speed until it encounters a more favorable signal aspect. Restricted speed means the train has to be able to be able to stop in half the visible distance ahead. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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