Photo ID: 113160 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Granby (7,325 ft) Granby, CO 205 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This eastbound coal train broke a drawbar when climbing the grade between Tabernash and the Moffat Tunnel overnight. As a result of the delay, one of its units also ran out of fuel and shut down! The train had to back down to the siding at Tabernash. 10 hours later, and a new crew is going to add two new units to the head end to get the train over the grade. Of note, the current lead unit, UP 6278, started its life in May 1995 as SP 187. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113159 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Granby (7,325 ft) Granby, CO 212 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific While taking some pictures around the Moffat Tunnel, I learned about two units sent west from Denver to assist a coal train at Granby. I decided to head to the west slope for some pictures. It is pretty crazy that, when I was at East Portal, I was only a little over six miles away from Winter Park (via the Moffat Tunnel). Yet by road, it was a 55 mile drive that took about 90 minutes! I finally made it to Granby, where I found the two units on the main, getting ready to work on the DPUs on the eastbound coal load. A new (heated) concrete platform at the Granby depot is nearing completion! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113158 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Gilpin County, CO 255 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific After meeting the westbound Zephyr, this eastbound UP manifest still has to wait a bit longer here in the siding at Tolland. An eastbound UP coal load broke a drawbar climbing the hill to the Moffat Tunnel on the west slope and had to back down to the siding at Granby. Two rescue units have been sent west out of Denver, and will meet the MGJNY here at Tolland. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113157 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 266 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak A nice treat this morning was to find Amtrak's Phase 4 heritage unit, AMTK 164, leading the westbound Zephyr as the train crosses East Portal Road between Tolland and East Portal. Fall colors are about as good as they are going to get, offering a spectacular ride for passengers. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113156 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 239 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific UP 5622 and two addition GEs are the sole power on this eastbound MGJNY, crossing over East Portal Road between East Portal and Tolland. The train will meet an already-waiting westbound Zephyr at Tolland. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113155 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS049 (East East Portal) Gilpin County, CO 220 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Unfortunately, it feels as though UP found one of the grungiest units to lead the MGJNY this morning as the train rolls through the east switch of East Portal. At least the flag decal is in really good shape, even if the paint behind it is practically faded to white. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113154 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 288 (1 Comment Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific When it comes to rail photography (or outdoor photography in general), there is no better time to get out in the Colorado high country than the last week of September! An eastbound UP manifest has just emerged from the Moffat Tunnel and is rolling eastbound. James Peak and surrounding peaks have a dusting of snow, and fall colors are about at their peak. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113153 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS050 (West East Portal) Gilpin County, CO 247 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific On a beautiful late-September morning, UP's thrice-weekly MGJNY has emerged from the Moffat Tunnel, passing by a work train that is currently tied down in the siding here at East Portal. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113152 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 26, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS050 (West East Portal) Gilpin County, CO 209 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Fall has descended on the Colorado high country, when some fantastic yellows up at the Moffat Tunnel, around 9,000 feet above sea level. There is a work train currently tied down (without power) in the siding. UP in investing a lot of time and money into maintenance for the Moffat in the coming months, including fresh ballast and many new ties. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113151 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sagers to Thompson (MP 521.4 to MP 527.3) Grand County, UT 194 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Green River (UP) Amtrak In the rapidly fading light, the westbound Zephyr climbs up the east slope of Thompson Hill. The dirt mounds of the desert cast some crazy shadows in the low light, giving the desert a different feel from the middle of the day. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113150 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sagers to Thompson (MP 521.4 to MP 527.3) Grand County, UT 265 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Green River (UP) Amtrak AMTK 60 and AMTK 190 lead the westbound Zephyr by the intermediate signal just east of Thompson. Union Pacific started replacing signals in the Utah desert 15 years ago. A project that seemingly has been abandoned. Some signals were replaced. Some new signal masts were erected with no signal heads and never completed, and others, like this intermediate, were never touched. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113149 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sagers to Thompson (MP 521.4 to MP 527.3) Grand County, UT 271 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Green River (UP) Amtrak Running right around 40 minutes late, the westbound Zephyr charges quickly across the Utah desert west of Sagers. You can seen the tracks in the distance, winding their way across the desert. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113148 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed South of Brendel Grand County, UT 278 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Cane Creek (UP) Union Pacific UP 1616 is putting on a bit of a show, kicking up some exhaust as it throttles up, climbing in elevation toward the mainline at Brendel, another 15 or so miles to the north. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113147 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed South of Brendel Grand County, UT 194 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Cane Creek (UP) Union Pacific Union Pacific unveiled UP 1616, sporting the paint scheme that honors the 16th US president, Abraham Lincoln, in early 2025. While there was no official word why this unit was painted up, it is widely speculated that it was done in advance of the announcement between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to merge. Abraham Lincoln once stated that it was his dream to see a transcontinental railroad that would run from the Pacific to the Atlantic. That certainly seems to be a strong indicator why this unit was created. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 113146 Date Shot Photo By Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed South of Brendel Grand County, UT 259 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Cane Creek (UP) Union Pacific As UP 1616 kicks up a bit of exhaust, throttling up for the climb back toward the mainline, there are multiple mountain peaks in the distance, including Mount Mellenthin, Mount Peale, Mount Tukuhnikivtaz, and South Mountain. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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