Western Railroad Discussion > Miss Katy in very non-Katy Territory (Moffat Tunnel Sub)

Greetings!

Earlier this week, UP 1988 (UP Katy Heritage Unit) was the fourth of four units on a westbound coal train on UP's Moffat Tunnel Sub. The train went to the Energy loadout on the Craig Branch. Yesterday, the train had a 0915 call time at Phippsburg with UP 1988 on the point. Using a PTO day at work, I headed for Bond to see if I could chase the train east. I was hoping to make it to Crater (on the Craig Branch), but the train was a bit too fast. I started with a shot about a mile west of Center Bond where the Craig Branch meets with the mainline.

The train had about 100 miles worth a clear signals, from Phippsburg all the way to the east switch of Tabernash. There, the train had to stop and wait for the eastbound Zephyr to run around. After 45 minutes, the Zephyr showed up. Another 45 minutes and the Zephyr was through the Moffat Tunnel and UP 1988 got signals to proceed east. Between Fraser and the Moffat Tunnel, the grade increases to 2%. The engineer reported to the dispatcher that they had been having some DPU comm issues and they could not guarantee they would not stall out. The DS told them to give it a shot. They slowed down to 5 MPH east of Fraser, but did make it to the tunnel. Gotta love AC traction motors. All-in-all, it was a about a seven hour journey from Phippsburg to the Moffat Tunnel. I had to call of the chase at Fraser so I could get home.

I was particularly happy I was able to take the day and chase as UP 1988 was the only one of the six heritage units that I had never seen "in action" (on a train out on the mainline). So I was very happy to get the opportunity.

Here are some shots from the day.

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1. Located high above Colorado State Highway 131, UP 1988 leads an eastbound coal load toward the end of the Craig Branch at Center Bond. To the left, you can see another coal load on the main at Bond. This train is on the Glenwood Springs Sub and on the Dotsero Cutoff. It will follow UP 1988 east toward Denver. 

2. Despite being on the wrong side of the tracks (as far as the sun goes), UP 1988 looks mighty fine as it rounds the curve at State Bridge along the banks of the Colorado River. 

3. On a pristine October day in the Colorado high country, an eastbound coal load (with UP 1988 on the point) climbs the gentle 0.15% grade along the Colorado River just east of Yarmony. 

Continued...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/18 12:24 by ColoradoRailfan.

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4. UP 1988 works its way through the narrow canyon known as "Little Gore Canyon". The canyon starts at Tunnel 39 to the east (which the train is approaching) and ends just past Tunnel 40 to the west. 

5. After conquering Gore Canyon, this eastbound coal load can increase its speed a bit as the terrain opens up and the tracks are much straighter. the curves that are found are not nearly as severe as in the canyon of the Rocky Mountains. The train is accelerating toward a speed of about 45 MPH as it passes by the east switch of Kremmling. 

6. After cruising along at 45 MPH for the past several miles, UP 1988 is now slowing down to 20 MPH in preparation for entering Byers Canyon from the west.

Continued...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

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7. UP 1988 looks pretty sharp as it leads a coal train east through Byers Canyon. The Colorado River is somewhat low, typical for the fall. The train has clear signals all the way to Tabernash.

8. Looking across an open field at Tabernash, we see an eastbound UP coal load (with UP 1988 leading) on the main. The main and the siding separate at Tabernash. There are no grade crossings on the main at Tabernash, but there are on the siding. As a result, long train typically hold the main rather than taking the siding to avoid blocking the grade crossing. 

9. It was a chilly October day (42°F) as UP 1988 sits on the point of an eastbound coal load on the main at Tabernash as a few lazy clouds glide across the sky. The train, which loaded at Energy on the Craig Branch, is waiting for the eastbound Zephyr to pass by on the siding before it attempts to charge up the hill to the Moffat Tunnel. The train has been having some DPU issues, so the engineer cannot guarantee they will not stall out. 

Continued...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/18 12:25 by ColoradoRailfan.

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10. The eastbound Zephyr is making its way through the siding at Tabernash around an eastbound coal load with UP 1988 on the point. With the sun moving into the western sky, the light is just perfect near the east end of Tabernash.

11. The eastbound Zephyr, running a mere nine minutes late, is coming up to a clear signal at the east end of Tabernash. In the distance, Winter Park is starting to get a good snow base, getting ready to open in a month (or possibly less). 

12. After completing its station stop in Fraser, the eastbound Zephyr (led by AMTK 46 and AMTK 3) continues east past the east switch in fantastic afternoon light. 

Continued...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

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13. After holding at Tabernash for nearly 90 minutes, UP 1988 now gets its turn to attack the grade up to Winter Park. The grade at Fraser decreased from 1.75% to just under 1%, making the climb a little bit easier. All four units (two on the point and two on the rear) are definitely in run 8. 

14. Coming past the Fraser depot, UP 1988 is rolling east at about 12 MPH. With four units and 78 cars, the train is probably right around 2.0 HPT, which is about the bare minimum to crawl up the 2% grade coming up between Fraser and Winter Park.

15. After a fantastic day in the Colorado High Country along the Moffat, it is time for a parting shot of this eastbound coal load that has UP 1988 on the point. The train is starting to slow as the head end is now on the 2% grade. The train would ultimately slow to 5 MPH on its way up to the tunnel, but it did not stall out and ultimately made it over the top of the hill. 

The End!

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Thanks for looking! These shots and more are available on my website for those interested.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

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Wow, what a beautiful chase with a great looking train and Fall scenery. You had a great day!

Larry

That's what is called a Home Run chase Kevin!  More cliches are "you cleaned up"  "nailed it" "knocked it out of the park" etc...  Great series of photos!

Great series of photos! Thanks for sharing!

Todd Skaggs
Dodge City, KS

Very good images, great you made the effort to go to the west slope.  Great looking unit to lead the train!

Wow, you scored big with great pictures.  All are amazing, but I predict we might see #7 for IOTD!

Rich

Wow.

Simply Wow. Some of those views are stunning (1, 3, 4 and 7)

Killer series Kevin!

Really like the Little Gore and Byers Canyon shots!

Good thing he held back at Tabernash, most Engineers like to park under the overpass.

ColoradoRailfan Wrote:
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> Greetings!
>
> Earlier this week, UP 1988 (UP Katy Heritage Unit)
> was the fourth of four units on a westbound coal
> train on UP's Moffat Tunnel Sub. The train went to
> the Energy loadout on the Craig Branch. 

Your welcome!  Alas, during your chase, I was flying to Sea-Tac and Portland.  I am surprised to see she got to lead coming back.  Guess they load uphill at the Energy loadout.  These  SD-70s are not equipped to slow loading control.  What was mid-train pwoer?

Rob

Your photos are so awersome and terrific. Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Barry Cook
Yass NSW Australia.

Awesome day-you get my vote for Images of the MONTH-!  Well worth your PTO Day.  1988 came off coal load at Denver October 17, 2018 and was moved to UP's North Yard.

Awesome!!, great work on all but I keep going back to #4.

Great chase - Glad somebody got out there to see it! === === = === JLH

Great shots!

Thanks for all the kind words!

OregonOldGuy Wrote:
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> Your welcome!  Alas, during your chase, I was
> flying to Sea-Tac and Portland.  I am surprised
> to see she got to lead coming back.  Guess they
> load uphill at the Energy loadout.  These 
> SD-70s are not equipped to slow loading control. 
> What was mid-train pwoer?
>
> Rob

Rob-

The train was only 78 cars and only had four units, set up 2x2! No mid-train helpers at all. Guessing that must've given the train around 2 HPT for the trip east.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Those are some great shots, Kevin!  Too bad Tabernash (shot 11) can't look like this anymore, like it did slighly over 39 years ago.

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