Photo ID: 111086 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 441 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Five units lead a westbound oil train on the main at East Portal at an altitude of over 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) above sea level, the Moffat is the highest active mainline of any Class 1 Railroad in the United States. About 15 years ago, UP extended Tolland siding, increasing its length from 5,600 feet to over 9,000 feet. Consequently, the siding at East Portal is seemingly never used for meets these days. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111085 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland to East Portal (MP 47.7 to MP 48.9) Gilpin County, CO 404 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific After waiting patiently in the siding at Tolland for both the westbound Zephyr and the westbound Rocky Moutaineer to overtake it, it is finally this westbound oil empties turn to head west into the Moffat Tunnel. The train is wrapping its way through the curves between Tolland and East Portal. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111084 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed East Portal (5,750 ft) Gilpin County, CO 275 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific In between trains, I thought I'd grab a shot of one leg of the wye off the siding at East Portal. A century ago, this track led to the mainline that ran over Rollins Pass. The 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel was under construction in September 1924, but was still 3 1/2 years away from opening. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111079 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Gilpin County, CO 393 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific In this 400mm shot of a westbound oil empty, stopped in the siding at Tolland, you can easily identify which track is the main and which is the siding. The main has continuous welded rail, while the siding still has joints every 66 feet (roughly). The train is stopped to allow both the morning Zephyr and the Rocky Mountaineer to pass. The Zephyr is only about 15 minutes away. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111078 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tolland (9,356 ft) Gilpin County, CO 317 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A hint of frost holds on to the tips of the evergreen trees in the midst of a sea of yellow. Just as fall is officially starting, temperatures in the high country got below freezing last night, leaving some snow on the ground. However, the ground and even air this morning is warm enough that most traces of the snow are gone as a westbound oil empty comes to a stop in the siding of Tolland. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111077 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins to Tolland (MP 41.2 to MP 45.8) Gilpin County, CO 381 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific UP 7346 crosses over South Boulder Creek just around the bend from the east end of Tolland. The train will be facing a Diverging Approach (red over yellow), going in to the siding at Tolland. The smattering of deciduous trees makeup a beautiful scene as fall colors reach their peak. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111076 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rollins to Tolland (MP 41.2 to MP 45.8) Gilpin County, CO 376 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific Fall colors have pretty well reached their peak above 8,000 feet, and the trees in the canyon between Rollins and Tolland are no exception. Five units lead an oil empty along South Boulder Creek. The train will be going into the siding at Tolland to let the westbound Zephyr and the Rocky Mountaineer pass. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111075 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed CP DS038 (West Cliff) Gilpin County, CO 327 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The rain is still lightly falling after a night of freezing temperatures and consistent rain. Five units lead a westbound oil empty as it approaches a clear signal at the west end of Cliff. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111074 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Tunnel 1 (MP 23.4, 366 ft) Arvada, CO 363 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This westbound oil train, emerging from Tunnel 1, is ducking just beneath the low hanging clouds on a chilly September morning, just one day in to the official start of fall. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111073 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 22, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Coal Creek (MP 23) Arvada, CO 362 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It is a dreary, drizzly morning and a mere 45°F (7°C) as a westbound empty oil train moves through the cut between MP 22.6 and the base of Coal Creek Canyon. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111072 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 278 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific There is a small platform and a railing for the conductor to hold on to as this oil train makes a reverse move on the main at Rocky. The conductor is ensuring the track behind the track is clear, and that the train has a signal out the east end. After the tail end of the train in on the main just east of Rocky, the conductor will get off the last car and the train will continue to back up without any protection under General Code of Operating Rule 6.6. This rule allows for unprotected reverse movements in CTC when the train will not pass a control point or grade crossing (among other things). Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111071 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 280 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific The conductor of this westbound oil train is riding on the last car of the train. The train is currently backing up east through the siding. The switch at the west end of Rocky is broken, and the train will have to back out onto the main and then continue west on the main. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111068 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 301 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific This is definitely a unit that could stand not only a wash, but a full on repaint. At least the unit is operable, an issue that a lot of UP units has been facing lately. It is the third unit on westbound oil train. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111067 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Rocky (7,330ft) Arvada, CO 275 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific It is a crystal clear, blue sky morning as an ES44AC sits on the siding near the west end of Rocky. The paint on this unit is a bit spotty, but it is nice to see the American flag itself in pretty good shape. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 111066 Date Shot Photo By Thursday, September 19, 2024 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Little Ten Curve (MP 18.7 to MP 18.9) Arvada, CO 273 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Moffat Tunnel (UP) Union Pacific A trio of units are on the point of a westbound (empty) oil train in the siding at Rocky. This oil train is a bit shorter than many, and these three units are the only three on the train. The train is waiting for the westbound Zephyr to pass it, at which point it will back out of the east end of the siding and proceed west on the main. The reverse move will be necessary due to a broken switch at the west end. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.

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