Western Railroad Discussion > Coal Monster on the Moffat

Greetings!

There was a massive empty coal train that ran west out of Denver on UP's Moffat Tunnel Subdivision earlier today. The empty was around 11,500 feet in length. Basically, two empties combined in to a single train. Between Denver and Grand Junction, there are two sidings that are long enough to hold the train between switches: Allen (in Glenwood Canyon), and Palisade (just east of Grand Junction). Any other meets along the way will require the eastbound to, at least briefly, wait for the empty to clear.

As if this monster wasn't enough, a pair of CSX units were leading the train west. And, the first was a heritage unit. First CSX heritage unit I've seen on the Moffat. CSX 1981, the Pan Am Railways unit, was in charge of the beast.

1. The train is making its way through the S-Curves on the climb up to Big Ten Curve west of Rocky.

2. This is the longest train I've ever personally seen on the Moffat. The train is effectively two coal empties stuck together into one. Behind the three lead units (including a pair of CSX ES44AHs) is 105 cars. Then, there are three mid-train DPUs (hidden behind the hill at Big Ten). Behind those three mid-train DPUs is another 104 cars. The train is 11,500 feet long. When the head end reaches East Plain, the tail end will just be passing West Eisele (Clay)! 

3. The project to increase the height of Gross Reservoir is nearly completion, as you can see in the distance. In the foreground, we've got an extremely long westbound coal empty, led by a pair of CSX units and a newly painted UP C44ACM. CSX 1981 is one of 21 heritage units CSX has painted up, honoring the railroads that have gone in to making CSX.

I know there were several others out there giving chase this morning, so I'm guessing you'll see some additional perspectives. 😊

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

---

---

---

1 - Westbound CSXT 1981 Pan Am Railway Heritage unit led a 209-car empty coal train over UP's Moffat Tunnel Subd at Rollinsville, Colorado, 23 March 2026.  Here the 3x3x0 train departed Rollins Siding headed for the Colorado Rockies and the Continental Divide using 6.2-mile long Moffat Tunnel.

NO sound videos

2 video - CSXT 1981 cross the South Boulder Creek west of Pinecliffe, CO, on UP's Moffat Tunnel Subd Monday, 23 March 2026.

3 video - Snow still covers the Colorado Rockies but weather folks say its only 56% snow pack for this time of the year  - drought conditions-!  CSXT 1981 was moving right along near East Portal, Colorado, 23 March 2026.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/26 15:34 by cozephyr.

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Man, that's Awesome!
Excellent catch and shots!

I believe I saw the tail end of this at Tabernash while I shot #6 today. The west bound empty had taken the siding and was blocking the grade crossing at Tabernash by about six cars while waiting for #6 to pass on the main.  

Phil



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/26 18:28 by philippe.

Nice videos Chip but that snow sure looks sparse up there.... Fire season is arriving early and won't be fun!

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Chip and Kevin, outstanding! Thanks for sharing.

Paul Brennecke
Golden, CO

That absolutely looks gnarly. Feels wrong to see something so blue in a place so dry. 

Amazing catch! 

Does that count as a "big" surprise?!  Nice chase

Great series

Does this set the stage for 200+ oil tranis runnig east on the Moffat?  Tom Klinger

Great shots and videos!

No, UP has been sending oil trains out west via Utah to the UP's Overland Route in Wyoming.  Please note UP Moffat Tunnel Subd is rather quiet for eastbound loaded oil trains - like none.

ParkSouth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does this set the stage for 200+ oil trains running
> east on the Moffat?  Tom Klinger

cozephyr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, UP has been sending oil trains out west via
> Utah to the UP's Overland Route in Wyoming.
>  Please note UP Moffat Tunnel Subd is rather
> quiet for eastbound loaded oil trains - like
> none.

The above is definitely not accurate. BNSF runs oil loads east out of the Price River Terminal in Wellington. And that terminal is expanding (both UP and BNSF have access).

I just watched the Arvada cam the other day. A BNSF oil load came down the mountain as a 3x3, destination Stroud, Oklahoma.

Keith_Kevet

Posted from Android



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/26 20:40 by Keith_Kevet.

Keith_Kevet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The above is definitely not accurate. BNSF runs
> oil loads east out of the Price River Terminal in
> Wellington. And that terminal is expanding (both
> UP and BNSF have access).
>
> I just watched the Arvada cam the other day. A
> BNSF oil load came down the mountain as a 3x3,
> destination Stroud, Oklahoma.
>
> Keith_Kevet
>
> Posted from Android

Hey Keith-

cozephyr is correct insofar as UP is not running many (if any) oil trains east on the Moffat. UP oil trains loading at Wash or Wildcat do run west to Salt Lake and then east over the Overland.

BNSF does not have trackage rights on the Overland, so their loaded oil trains do indeed use the Moffat.

So, UP oil loads are seldom seen on the Moffat. BNSF oil loads definitely still use the Moffat.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

ColoradoRailfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Keith_Kevet Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The above is definitely not accurate. BNSF runs
> > oil loads east out of the Price River Terminal
> in
> > Wellington. And that terminal is expanding
> (both
> > UP and BNSF have access).
> >
> > I just watched the Arvada cam the other day. A
> > BNSF oil load came down the mountain as a 3x3,
> > destination Stroud, Oklahoma.
> >
> > Keith_Kevet
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Hey Keith-
>
> cozephyr is correct insofar as UP is not running
> many (if any) oil trains east on the Moffat. UP
> oil trains loading at Wash or Wildcat do run west
> to Salt Lake and then east over the Overland.
>
> BNSF does not have trackage rights on the
> Overland, so their loaded oil trains do indeed use
> the Moffat.
>
> So, UP oil loads are seldom seen on the
> Moffat. BNSF oil loads definitely still use the
> Moffat.

I understand what you're saying. However quoting him: "Please note UP Moffat Tunnel Subd is rather quiet for eastbound loaded oil trains - like none" could easily make someone assume there aren't any at all. We know that's false.

It's splitting hairs and I'm not going to place blame. But all of us need to be a little more careful making sure info is accurate before posting it. This was a simple mistake that could have been avoided.

Keith_Kevet

you can see UP oil trains on the Laramie cam