Photo ID: 109427 Date Shot Photo By Friday, September 15, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Chemical (MP 14.5) Arvada, CO 442 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The morning Zephyr passes by the switch that used to allow access to Chem Spur. The spur hasn't been used in close to a decade, and in 2017, UP removed the frog for this turnout. It allows for a smoother, safer ride for any train crossing over it. Such as the passengers riding on the Zephyr here. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109415 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 7, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Plain (6,530 ft) Arvada, CO 605 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak With school back in session, a lot of vacations completed, and summer coming to a close, it appears Amtrak has reduced the Zephyr from seven Superliners to six Superliners. It is pretty common for one car to be removed from the train during the winter season, ostensibly due to a decrease in demand. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109414 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 7, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0) Arvada, CO 513 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Just west of the west end of Eisele (Clay), the morning Zephyr is right on time as it continues its journey west. At this point, roughly 22 miles west of Denver Union Station, you can clearly see the downtown skyline in the distance as the Zephyr rounds the bend toward Blue Mountain Road crossing. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109405 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Sand Creek Commerce City, CO 731 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Brush (BNSF) Amtrak It is exceptionally rare to be able to catch the eastbound Zephyr crossing through the diamond at Sand Creek in this type of lighting. Normally, the Zephyr would come through here around 7:45pm (when on time). However, it is 11:30am and the Zephyr is over 16 hours late due to flooding and an out of service track in Nevada the previous day. Here, the train is crossing over Sand Creek in the highly industrial town of Commerce City. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109398 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Union Station Denver, CO 429 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Denver Union Terminal (RTD) Amtrak Here is a scene that looks radically different from how it would have appears 15 years ago! The catenary around Union Station for RTD Commuter Rail trains looks like something from Chicago or the Northeast. Buildings have also shot up all around Union Station. And of course, "train hall" has been completely rebuilt. The Zephyr is backing in to Track 4, the standard track for the Zephyrs station stop. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109397 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed BNSF Engine House Denver, CO 454 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Yard Shots Amtrak On the east side of BNSF's Engine House in Denver, the California Zephyr is backing down the Passenger Lead toward Union Station to make an almost 16 hour late station stop. The tracks on the bridge next to the Zephyr below to RTD's N-Line commuter rail that runs northeast to Thornton. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109396 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed 31st Street Yard Denver, CO 458 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Yard Shots Amtrak An almost 16 hour late Zephyr backs down the Passenger Lead that will take it in to Union Station, allowing it to make its station stop in Denver. It is rare to get a shot of the eastbound Zephyr making this move in such great light. In fact, for about half the year, this move takes place in the dark, well after sunset. The landscape of Downtown Denver has certainly changed significantly in the past 10-15 years. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109395 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed 31st Street Yard Denver, CO 499 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Yard Shots Amtrak Sitting on the bridge over the South Platte River, the Zephyr sits next to two BNSF yard jobs. This is a bit of a bottleneck for the Zephyr (east and west) as these are "yard limits". No CTC and no dispatcher through here. It is somewhat analogous to a parking lot for cars. Take turns and watch for each other. It is slow going and switches have to be hand-thrown to align your particular train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109394 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed 31st Street Yard Denver, CO 553 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Yard Shots Amtrak The two P42DCs leading the eastbound Zephyr sit on the bridge over the South Platte River in the middle of BNSF's yard, awaiting for a switch to be thrown ahead of it so it can pull forward, and then back down the Passenger Lead in the Denver Union Station. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109393 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9) Arvada, CO 692 (1 Comment Posted) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak This is a shot that I've imaged trying to get before, but never actually thought I'd get the chance! At first, the picture may not appear to be anything particularly special. The eastbound Zephyr coming through Little Ten Curve on the main at Rocky. But if you look again, toward the top of the shot, you'll see the westbound Zephyr exiting Tunnel 1 on its way west. The eastbound Zephyr here is running almost 16 hours late and the two Zephyrs met at Eisele (Clay). After a quick meet, the eastbound Zephyr was at Little Ten at the westbound Zephyr departed Tunnel 1 on the approach to Plain. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109392 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2) Arvada, CO 687 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak In fantastic morning light on a beautiful September morning, the previous day's eastbound California Zephyr, running almost 16 hours late, passes by the hoppers on the inside of Big Ten Curve, making its way east toward Denver. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109391 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 613 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak Both Zephyrs on the eastern slope of the Moffat at the same time is a very rare event. It happens once every 1-2 years on average, and can only happen when one of the train is extremely late. What qualifies for "extremely late"? In this instance, the eastbound Zephyr (facing the camera) is nearly 16 hours late! It was stuck in Nevada for over 12 hours due to the tracks being out of service after massive amounts of rainfall. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109390 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 665 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr accelerates up the grade on the main, moving away from the camera, as a 16-hour late eastbound Zephyr waits for a crew member to board before releasing the brakes and continuing on in to Denver, attempting to make up time where possible. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109389 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 549 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak The westbound Zephyr, moving away from the camera, stopped on the main at Eisele (Clay) to drop off a crewman who then walked to the Transition Sleeper on the eastbound Zephyr. Not entirely sure why he took the ride from Denver out here, but back to Denver he goes! The eastbound Zephyr is running almost 16 hours late due to torrential rains in the Nevada desert taking the tracks out of service. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 109388 Date Shot Photo By Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft) Arvada, CO 540 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Amtrak East meets west...but in a very rare location! An almost 16-hour late Zephyr approaches the camera on the siding at Eisele (Clay) as an on-time westbound Zephyr approaches on the main. If the eastbound Zephyr was not late, these Zephyrs would have met somewhere in the middle of the night in the Nebraska plains, hundreds of miles to the east. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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