Western Railroad Discussion > Fall on the Moffat Route

Yesterday, I went up to UP's Moffat Route west of Denver with my nephews to photograph the fall colors since they've reached their peak. There were quite a few trains out running. The weather started out sunny, but as we climbed higher, a storm system was moving over the divide, which created partly sunny conditions most of the day. Our first train of the day was Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr, train 5 with AMTK 184 leading. After going through the Moffat Tunnel, and letting the tunnel vent, an eastbound BNSF manifest came down the hill with a trio of BNSF GE's on the point. I knew there was suppose to be at least few more eastbound's coming, we went and set-up above the tracks on the old Rollins Pass ROW. The scanner had been quite all morning until DS-82 called "BNSF 8142 West". He held them at Rollins since an eastbound stalled out on the other side of the mountain. After getting things situated, the dispatcher decided to run the BNSF train through the tunnel and into Winter Park till the mess was sorted out. Considering at that point, most of the traffic was still on the west end, we took a gamble and drove to the other side to Winter Park.

Along the way, I received updates about the trains and it looked like most if not all were still on the west end, which was a good sign we didn't miss anything. Upon arriving at Winter Park, we saw the westbound BNSF train parked in the siding there. We kept driving west and when we reached Tabernash, we saw the stalled eastbound holding the main. I found out that the SD70M second out failed and they were waiting for a couple of rescue units from Denver. As we got to Granby, Amtrak was about to come into town to do its station stop there. After getting Amtrak, we headed west a little further towards Hot Sulphur Springs only to run into the other eastbound UP manifest. After making a U-Turn, we chased the train east back towards Granby and Tabernash. When we got back to Tabernash, Amtrak 6 was just getting into Fraser to do its station stop before the tunnel. Apparently one of the eastbound's, which ended up being a coal load was already running in front of Amtrak and we somehow missed it. The dispatcher decided to run the coal load through the tunnel, followed by Amtrak. During that time period, we went and grabbed some food in Winter Park. Afterwards, we saw that the eastbound UP manifest we chased earlier was heading east into the tunnel. The dispatcher told the westbound BNSF manifest that once the UP manifest clears, he'll get the light to head west. The crew told them that the train has work at Palisade, but they would only make it as far as Dotsero before getting a relief crew. After getting the BNSF train again leaving Winter Park, we finally headed back home.

Overall, the entire day was successful, even though we missed a couple of trains. But hey, what can you do. 

• Looking down below from Mammoth Gulch Road, Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr with AMTK 184 leading races west through Tolland.
• After meeting Amtrak at Winter Park, BNSF's eastbound trackage rights manifest exists the Moffat Tunnel at East Portal where they begin their descent down the 2-percent grade into Denver.
• The same manifest passes through the control point at the east end of East Portal siding.

There's more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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• BNSF's westbound trackage rights manifest races west up the 2-percent grade at the west end of Tolland, exiting a pocket of golden aspen trees.
• A nice lash-up consisting of a standard BNSF ES44C4, NS SD70ACe, and ex-ATSF C44-9W lead the westbound manifest through the east end of East Portal siding.
• An NS C40-9W and BNSF ES44C4 bring up the rear of the long manifest as the train continues to climb upgrade into the Moffat Tunnel up ahead.

There's more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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• Amtrak train No. 6, led by P42DC No. 6 comes into the station at Granby for its daily station stop on its eastbound run towards Denver and Chicago.
• An Assistant Conductor gives car counts to the engineer him know when to stop.
• Two Assistant Conductors get their pom-pilots ready to scan coach passenger tickets for boarding. After boarding coach passengers, they'll move up six cars and load the sleeping car passengers.

There's more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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• A brand new UP ET44AH No. 2719 leads the eastbound Roper Yard to North Yard manifest (MRONY 23) through the colorful trees and HBD just west of Granby.
• The eastbound Roper Yard manifest has entered the siding at Tabernash and has come to a stop where they'll wait for the two eastbounds ahead to head into the tunnel. The train on the right is the MRONYX 22 that stalled out while climbing the hill.
• After waiting for three eastbounds, the westbound BNSF manifest finally heads west down the hill and can be seen approaching one of the QZ crossings in Winter Park.

One more...

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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• The two DPU's bring up the rear of the BNSF manifest as the train races down the hill into Fraser at Winter Park.

Thanks for looking!

John Crisanti
Longmont, CO

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Some pretty pictures there, John! Some of the best aspen tree shots on the Moffat that I have ever seen. Too darn bad Tennessee Pass is dormant, there are lots more spots up there. === === = === JLH

Excellent locations and splendid fall colors in the Rockies.
john

John, you sure captured the incredible fall colors of the Rockies with this series.  Hard to pick a favorite.  Thanks for sharing.

Kent in CArmel Valley

Brilliant fall colors on a very famous route.  Thanks for sharing.

Russell Honey
Springfield, MO
My Flickr page

GREAT pics!!  Thanks for posting these. 

Gorgeous colors!

Am I correct in that I am also seeing ALOT of dead pine trees in the backgrounds?  Drought or bark beetle damage?

Awesome series, so jealous. #1 is literally frame on your wall worthy. 

John - Terrific series of photos! Nice going.

Paul Brennecke
Golden, CO

Great series John, man those aspens look great love the bright yellow to gold and blend of drak greens.  Glad that there was some good action on the line for you and the nephews.  Always love seeing any Moffat pictures.  

Stunning pics!

As its said in German:  Wonderbar.   Just cannot top any comments on here that says it all.   YOUR a super, Darn good Photographer.  Mike in OHIO
OH,  by the way.   I believe I have seen this same train units go though Fostoria, OHIO,   Eastbound.   and come back though a day or so later.  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/16 02:10 by OARC.

Awesome series of photos & beautiful scenery.

Ronda Thomas

Posted from Android

Man, fantastic stuff!

- Jeff Carlson

Another nice set again!! thanks.  Have wanted to get out there but nice to see yours.

Bob Jordan

John, congrats on a well deserved IOTD!  Just goes to show what digital photography can do in cloudy weather.

Bob