Western Railroad Discussion > Solid CREX consist and a SPatch leader on the Moffat

I received a couple of notices about a solid consist of three CREX engines (Thanks guys) that was heading Eastbound on BNSF's Provo to Denver manifest train on Thursday afternoon. The train was making really good time and actually looked like it might make it into Denver before Sunrise on Friday morning. I finished work at 5:20 and a quick check on the train revealed that it was still on the west side of the Moffat Tunnel, just departing out of the siding at Tabernash. I thought that it just might work out with the train getting to Plainview in nice early morning light so I drove over to the West side of town.

However in typical Moffat fashion, the train stopped on the mainline at Winter Park and parked there for over 2 hours! I gave up when the skies turned out to be mostly cloudy instead of Sunny like the weatherman had predicted and was starting the drive home when TO member "ColoradoRailfan" called and informed me that the train was finally lined through the Moffat Tunnel and into the siding at Rollinsville where the crew was going to get relieved. Instead of fighting rush hour traffic, I decided to head up to Rollinsville and try to get at least one shot of the train.

On the drive up, I just missed getting a shot of four Huge Bull Elk and then the picture of the train at Rollinsville wasn't anything much but the real "kicker" was when I overheard on Kevin's hand-held (who I met up with at the overpass at Rollinsville) that the relief crew was on duty at 8:30 but they couldn't find a ride in Denver! Well, another "Moffatgotcha" so I started the drive back home pretty frustrated with how things turned out. I got all of the way out of the Mountains down to Blue Mtn. road and decided that I "wasn't gonna' let the Moffat win this time" so I decided to turn back around once more and drove to the West side of Pinecliffe to do some exploring:}

1 and 2) While waiting around, might as well shoot the Sunrise with the Intermediate signal at Milepost 23 right at the overpass of Hwy. 72 and at the mouth of Coal Creek Canyon.

3) CREX 1209 enters the siding at the West end of Rollinsville.

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4) I found a location above Lake Pactolus between Pinecliffe and Rollinsville where I could shoot the train both coming and going. I might have a found a little better of a shot by climbing a Pine Tree but I didn't feel like swaying in the wind waiting for the train to show up!

5) The going away shot of the rear DPU's, BNSF 6797 and CSXT 7668 wasn't too bad.

6) I next hustled down to Blue Mtn. road where the 5800 ft. train fit perfectly to just get the rear helpers in the shot!

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/17 08:11 by SP8595.

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I then received another text from Kevin that a coal load was following behind the BNSF train and the day before, TO member "t" had informed me that he shot a coal train with a SPatch leader so I decided to go ahead and wait for one more train:}

7) UP 6358, the ex-SP 313 pops out of Tunnel #1.

8) Continuing heading downhill.

9) Making the horseshoe curve at Coal Creek Canyon. It looks pretty rough but catching a SPatch leader is getting hard to do these days!

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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/17 10:03 by SP8595.

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10) The mid train (or swing) helpers, UP 7441, 5708 and 7652 are seen with the front of the train in the foreground. This train is heading to Chicago to get interchanged with the Norfolk Southern so I have no clue why there would be Texas Utilities cars (TGNX initials) in the train?

11) Rear helper SD70ACe #8399 with Moffat grime.

It is never easy shooting on the Moffat but with so few trains running these days, I'm glad I made the decision (a couple of times!) to keep on fighting:}



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/17 09:59 by SP8595.

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John those are nice! 

Just proves the point you should never give up fighting the clouds...



Allen

Great shots John! Glad you were able to catch the CREX lash up.

Valleyman

Great shots, mon! Makes me wish I lived a leeeeetle-bit closer, my reaction time from here to the Moffatt is a bit slow... === === = === JLH

Outstanding bunch! Very unusual to see three CREX's on a train, great job.
JB

Nice Series and Location!

Good on the CREX catch!

Posted from Android

Kooool

Posted from iPhone

Wow these are great shots and good lighting.  Fun following the chase in your photos.  Don't think I have ever seen a solid leader set of CREXs before.  Really well done.
Brian Stevens

Great photos of the sunrise, the CREX power set, the UP train coming behind it.  Really glad you stuck it out, you have some great photos to show for it.

Ted S-P

I've never seen three of those together, good catch.  Great photos as well!

Glad you made the effort and shared your rewards. What a great day!

Todd Busse

Glad you decided to go with the "who needs sleep" philosophy and stuck around for the relief crew! Excellent find back in there near Pactolus. Also glad the sun came out (somewhat) for the shots going east.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Wow!   Very nice!  I wonder if that's the first time as many as three of those have been solo together since after their delivery?

-Tom

Wow! Great catches. That trio of CREX's is a cool one.

PQM

Awesome work!

Posted from iPhone

What a catch John. I vote Image #6 as IOTM, Image of the Month!
FCP901