Western Railroad Discussion > Early summer Moffat action

On Saturday I had some free time in the morning and decided to try and catch a few trains on the Moffat. I was out early around 7am, but the scanner was dead quiet, and I knew Amtrak was at least an hour late. Down at Crescent a short work train of gondolas and a front end loader was idling on the siding, but no real action. I eventually made my way up to Pinecliffe and explored the rocks above Tunnel 29 a bit more and found a new vantage point I liked. After about an hour and a half sitting in the sun and watching the fishermen in South Boulder Creek below, the scanner finally came alive. Of course, after a full morning of nothing, there ended up being a meet right at Cliff so I had to shoot both trains from the same location. Luckily it was a pretty sweet location. I was also excited to see a heritage unit on the front of #5 when it finally showed up, about 2 hrs late.

1) Amtrak 5 wb across the creek
2) #5 heading toward the east switch at Pinecliffe where it will take the siding to run around a BNSF
3) BNSF eb manifest had just pulled up to the stop signal at Cliffe a few minutes before in a well-timed meet, now slowly getting back underway with the continental divide in the background

 

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4) Headed east just about to enter Tunnel 29
5) Dropping down the grade at the mouth of Coal Creek Canyon exiting Tunnel 1. I got skunked by a big cloud here, but the shots still came out alright
6) Approaching the Blue Mtn Rd crossing with the long train strung out behind

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I can see the brown trout in the creek, thanks for the pics. 

Normally I favor Calfornia poppies (yellow-orange) and lupine but i'll take the pumpkins in the last shot as a darn good substitute.   Very nice work, lovely images, good catches.  One of these might easily make IOTD.

grafvonb49

Beautiful work Nicholas, simply beautiful.

Larry W. Grant
(olddude41)
Dallas, Texas

Wow, 2 & 3 are outstanding!

Posted from iPhone

Nice pics!!

I like Pic 3!!

I like the photos from your new vantage spot.
John

Really great shots, love the last one.

Tom

Gorgeous images. Great composition and lots of effort to get these photos.
 

Those are some excellent pictures of my favorite line

Posted from Android