Photo ID: 111186 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blue Mountain Drive (MP 22.43) Arvada, CO 433 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Like many products in the United States, the United States military contracts with railroads to move equipment around the country. Here, three elephant-style GEs lead a nearly 7,700-foot train of armored vehicles over the Moffat at Blue Mountain Drive. More often than not, UP military trains in Colorado will run via the Greeley Sub. It was a nice surprise to find this one on the Moffat. The first since 2017! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111185 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 3 (MP 25.8, 369 ft) Jefferson County, CO 323 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The head end of an eastbound military train, 7,700 feet in length, emerges from Tunnel 2. The rest of the train stretches back and through Tunnels 3 and 4 (and beyond, out of view). The train originated in Yermo, CA and is ultimately headed for Fort Riley in Kansas. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111184 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 4 (MP 26.0, 174 ft) Jefferson County, CO 271 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific An eastbound military train emerges from the east portal of Tunnel 4. The train was stopped for about 30 minutes in the middle of the Tunnel District around MP 28 due to an air hose coming apart and sending the train into emergency. Fortunately, the air hose was only 16 cars back, so it didn't take the crew too long to fix the issue and get back on the move. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111183 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS025 (West Plain) Jefferson County, CO 348 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This westbound oil empty has come to a stop on the siding at the west end of Plain. I thought this perspective was rather cool, with the train hiding behind the pine trees. The train is facing a red signal, waiting for a meet with an eastbound train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111182 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 294 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Three units lead a westbound oil empty through the siding at Plain. The train had been holding short of the grade crossing to avoid blocking cars. However, the eastbound this oil train has been waiting on is now out of Crescent, so DS-380 told the crew on the oil train to pull into the clear. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111181 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 272 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific After holding short of the grade crossing at Plain, this oil train is pulling into the clear on the siding to meet an eastbound. The SD70ACe in the third spot is really coughing up some exhaust as the power throttles up. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111180 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 29 (MP 36.4, 75 ft) Boulder County, CO 306 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Military trains are quite uncommon on the Moffat. In fact, prior to this train snaking its way along South Boulder Creek through Tunnel 29, the last such train was in June 2017! After arriving in Denver, one unit will be cut off from the head end and the train will continue east on the KP. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111179 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 29 (MP 36.4, 75 ft) Boulder County, CO 299 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Three units lead an eastbound military train across South Boulder Creek and toward Tunnel 29 in the middle of the Colorado Rockies. This 7,700-foot train just met the Zephyr at Cliff. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111178 Date Shot Photo By Monday, October 7, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Cliff (6,900 ft) Boulder County, CO 324 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific An eastbound UP military train is coming to a stop in the siding at Cliff. The train is long enough that it is poking out the west end of the siding. The westbound Zephyr is not far off. Since the military doesn't fit between switches at Cliff, it'll be leaving just as soon as the Zephyr is clear of the east switch. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111175 Date Shot Photo By Friday, October 4, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 277 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific When I was a kid, I always liked both "Rail Box" and "Rail Gon" cars for some reason. "Rail Box" cars have all but disappeared in 2024, but you can still find some "Rail Gon" labeled gondolas roaming around. This along is a good example, sitting in the siding of Leyden along with a pair of former Missouri Pacific gondolas. Presumably, these cars are part of some maintenance project, though exactly what, I'm not sure. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111174 Date Shot Photo By Friday, October 4, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Leyden (7,020ft) Arvada, CO 302 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Three empty gondolas sit, tied down in the siding at Leyden. As you can see, they are the only three cars to be found in the siding. Presumably, they are here for something related to maintenance of way. Exactly what, I am unsure. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111165 Date Shot Photo By Friday, October 4, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Monument Monument, CO 404 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific, CSX This southbound unit ethanol train is crossing over Hwy 105 just north of the north switch of Monument. Although it is not quite visible in the shot, this bridge is still labeled as "Rio Grande". Today, Union Pacific owns the single track mainline through Colorado Springs, but BNSF dispatches it. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111164 Date Shot Photo By Friday, October 4, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Palmer Lake Palmer Lake, CO 392 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific, CSX At just shy of 7,200 feet above sea level, this colorful southbound unit ethanol train has reached the top of Palmer Divide. The CSX/CP mix of power rolls by several folks out fishing in Palmer Lake while enjoying the absolutely beautiful October morning. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111163 Date Shot Photo By Friday, October 4, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed The Sag Douglas County, CO 313 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific, CSX CSX 938 leads a southbound UP unit ethanol train into "The Sag" on Main 1, just north of Palmer Lake. Prior to the creation of the joint line, Santa Fe crossed over Rio Grande here. You can still see the abutment of the old bridge in the lower right. Now, Main 1 has a definite downhill grade as it descends from the original Santa Fe grade down the original Rio Grande grade. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111162 Date Shot Photo By Friday, October 4, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Blakeland Douglas County, CO 401 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Colorado Springs (UP)/Pikes Peak (BNSF) Union Pacific, CSX CSX 938, CSX 4742, CSX 313, and CP 8006 are some very colorful units leading a unit ethanol train south on the Joint Line. The train is just south of Blakeland, a few miles north of Palmer Lake and the top of Palmer Divide. There are a couple tiny ponds on the east side of Main 2, which offer up some nice scenery in the area. The ethanol train itself is on Main 1. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

Previous Page     Next Page