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Photo ID: 113698
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, April 12, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Leyden to Rocky (MP 13.4 to MP 17.4)
Arvada, CO
11
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
As the day has progressed, some pretty serious clouds have started to move into the area. Fortunately, breaks to the south allowed for some nice lighting on the Canyon Spirit as it approaches a green signal at the west switch of Leyden. The clouds "bark" was louder than their "bite", as no precipitation was generated this afternoon.
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Photo ID: 113695
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, April 12, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
13
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
A nice low angle view of the eastbound Canyon Spirit on Big Ten curve brings in some of the afternoon clouds that are starting to build.
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Photo ID: 113694
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, April 12, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
13
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
On the north edge of Big Ten Curve, the eastbound Canyon Spirit has slow down to 10 MPH due to a slow order that Union Pacific currently has in effect. Not entirely clear why the slow order is out there as there was no wind at all today.
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Photo ID: 113693
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, April 12, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele (Clay) (5,780 ft)
Arvada, CO
14
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
The first revenue run of the Canyon Spirit is close to wrapping up the round trip from Denver to Salt Lake City and back. The GP40-3s do have a tendency to have quite a few mechanical issues...hopefully that is not the case for RMRX 8021 as a crew member checks something out in one of the access doors on the long hood as the train rolls east on the main at Eisele (Clay).
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Photo ID: 113651
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0)
Arvada, CO
30
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
Both Canyon Spirit GP40-3s were mechanically good to go to start the 2026 season. Under overcast skies, the first revenue run of the Canyon Spirit rolls west of Tunnel 1, headed for Glenwood Springs today. The train departs Denver on Tuesdays and stays overnight in Glenwood Springs. On Wednesdays, it continues to Moab, UT. On Thursdays, it now continues west to Salt Lake City, UT (running over Soldier Summit). Fridays, it starts the return journey and stays in Moab again. Saturdays, it'll go east to Glenwood Springs, and Sundays, it returns to Denver. It does not run on Mondays.
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Photo ID: 113650
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Eisele to Plain (MP 21.8 to MP 24.0)
Arvada, CO
32
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
One of my personal favorite aspects of having the Canyon Spirit running on the Moffat is the power. Having the unique passenger train is certainly great, but as a railfan that grew up with Rio Grande in the 1980s, seeing class EMD spartan cabs makes me very happy. Here, the Canyon Spirit has emerged from Tunnel 1 and is continuing west toward Plain.
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Photo ID: 113649
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP DS022 (West Eiesle (Clay))
Arvada, CO
28
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
I really like the new paint scheme for the Canyon Spirit, as seen here at the west end of Eisele (Clay). The change from Rocky Mountaineer to Canyon Spirit is not a huge one. But the "Canyon Spirit" logo on the cab and cars looks very nice.
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Photo ID: 113648
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP DS020 (East Eisele (Clay))
Arvada, CO
27
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
The Canyon Spirit had a 10 MPH slow order coming around a part of Big Ten Curve. Now that the train is at Eisele (Clay), the slow order is behind the train, and the engineer has throttled up to speed back up. The Canyon Spirit GP40-3s acknowledge the throttle command by kicking up some exhaust!
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Photo ID: 113647
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
30
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
Black and white seemed appropriate for this morning shot of the westbound Canyon Spirit, as it leaves Big Ten Curve behind, and heads toward a green signal at the east switch of Eisele. The mesa in the background is North Table Mesa, on the north side of the town of Golden.
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Photo ID: 113646
Date Shot
Photo By
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Big Ten Curve (MP 19.5 to MP 20.2)
Arvada, CO
33
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
Today is the first revenue run of the Rocky Mountaineer for the 2026 season. One thing you might immediately note is that the train has actually be rebranded this year as the Canyon Spirit. The train, which is climbing Big Ten Curve, has expanded its service and is now running from Denver all the way to Salt Lake City (and back), making one round trip every six days. The train departs Denver west on Tuesdays and returns to Denver the following Sunday. It will not run at all on Mondays.
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Photo ID: 113474
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, December 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
36th Street Yard
Denver, CO
109
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Yard Shots Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer's SD40M-2 pulls the newly lettered GP40-3s as the Canyon Spirit through the yard at 36th Street. You can see the Mountaineer cars in the distance on the track they lease from Union Pacific.
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Photo ID: 113473
Date Shot
Photo By
Friday, December 19, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
36th Street Yard
Denver, CO
113
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Yard Shots Rocky Mountaineer
With the expansion of the Rocky Mountaineer next year, running from Denver to Salt Lake City (with layovers at Glenwood Springs and Moab), the two GP40-3s have been re-lettered for the Canyon Spirit. The change was made in the UP car shops at North Yard. Here, the Mountaineers leased SD40M-2 is taking the units back to 36th Street, where the Mountaineer's equipment is stored.
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Photo ID: 113370
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, November 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Radium to Yarmony (MP 117.8 to MP 123.0)
Eagle County, CO
148
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Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
Just east of the east switch of Yarmony, the westbound Canyon Spirit (still branded as the Rocky Mountaineer) is making a test/media run on its new routing from Denver to Salt Lake City (with stops in Glenwood Springs and Moab). Tonight, the train will layover in Glenwood, just like it will at the end of Day 1 when its new runs start in 2026.
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Photo ID: 113369
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, November 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Gore Canyon
Grand County, CO
153
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
Nearing the west end of Gore Canyon, the first official media run of the newly-rebranded Canyon Spirit makes its way west. Starting in 2026, the train will make a six day journey from Denver to Salt Lake City and back. It will make stops at Glenwood Springs and Moab as well. During the winter months, the power and the passenger cars will be changed to read Canyon Spirit instead of Rocky Mountaineer. There is also a new power car in the consist, which presumably will also be painted this winter.
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Photo ID: 113368
Date Shot
Photo By
Sunday, November 16, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Tunnel 36 (MP 108.8, 229 ft)
Grand County, CO
145
(1 Comment Posted)
Subdivision
Railroad
Moffat Tunnel (UP) Rocky Mountaineer
After meeting a eastbound coal load at Gore, it is the Rocky Mountaineer's turn to make its way through Gore Canyon, coming through Tunnel 36 in this shot. However, this is no longer the Rocky Mountaineer. This is now the Canyon Spirit! Same train, but it is being rebranded and, in 2026, will run from Denver all the way to Salt Lake City and back. This is a test run that includes some members of the media on board. A new power car is on the head end behind the power.
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