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.
Posted By Terry Ten Eyck On Saturday, November 8, 2025 At 10:47:02 PM (PT)
Wow! Kevin has great timing (and persistence). The lead locomotives are 9,910 feet (1.88 miles) apart with a 513’ difference in elevation. This difference is about 13% of the total climb from Denver to the Moffat Tunnel’s East Portal. The distant westbound train is already about 36% of the way through that climb.
In between the trains, and south of Highway 72 and east of the Plainview Road intersection, is the annual operation of the chipping of slash generated by Coal Creek Canyon residents, who trim their trees to reduce the risk of forest fire damage. Under construction, just in front of the distant locomotive, is the new Arvada water pumping station.
