This one's gonna be a big one.. The Moffat Route!!!

[HemiAdda2d]

From Rocky Siding (Arena siding before the 50's) to the Moffat Tunnel!
This will be a photo-intensive walkthrough of the Moffat Route, with my own photos. I will add as I have them. All that I lack is Tunnels 2-11, and Tunnel 30. All else will be covered in some fashion.
Here's Rocky Siding:
With a BNSF DENSTO manifest grinding upgrade:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aas.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aas.jpg)

And with the Rocky Flats Local awaiting dispatcher permission to occupy the main:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aaw.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aaw.jpg)

And with a UP eastbound coal load entering the west switch of the siding:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aau.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aau.jpg)

[ 29. September 2004, 00:11: Message edited by: HemiAdda2d ]

[BoxcabE50]

This one place seems to be a favorite spot for you! Next thing we'll hear, is that you've bought property adjacent to the track, for your retirement home? tongue.gif

:D

Boxcab E50

[WPZephyrFan]

Next thing we'll hear, is that you've bought property adjacent to the track, for your retirement home? graemlins/088.gif OOOO!!! Can I rent a room??? graemlins/222.gif

[HemiAdda2d]

It's VERY tempting, especially near Miramonte (T22-24 area). The scenery is breathtaking, and VERY few humans save for MOW/train crews EVER see that area.
I love fanning the Moffat route. Canyatell??? :D graemlins/222.gif graemlins/wink.gif

[HemiAdda2d]

Next installment:
Big Ten and Little Ten curves!
Named for the degrees of their curvature, they are brutal on trains, due to the curvature, AND the 2% steady climb they achieve.

Here's a view of a coal train resting on part of Little Ten, and Rocky Siding, from Clay Siding on Amtrak #5 the California Zephyr:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album71/acb.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album71/acb.jpg)

Here's a shot of a coal load descending Big Ten from Clay Siding:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/UP/aac.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/UP/aac.jpg)

Here's a UP coalie at the apex of Big Ten's curve:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aan.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aan.jpg)

More soon..... Stay Tuned!!!

[Colonel]

Jeremiah,

Love those Rio Grandes, can't believe the length of that train certainly justify the amount of grain cars I have purchased.

Look forward to seeing the rest of this story

[HemiAdda2d]

It promises to be a LONG one.
Many, many posts. LOTS of images, hence the click-link images, which also makes it dial-up friendly.
I should have started this story here LONG time ago!
My goal is to have just half the following as that of Jerry D's Engineer classes!

[Colonel]

I agree the use of click link images makes it great for those on dial up, looking forward to this story, maybe you can find a map of the area you are showing as I for one am not totally sure of the line , history etc????

[HemiAdda2d]

A GREAT site to visit is one by Matt Hannes (http://www.matts-place.com/trains/colorado/) , and his maps, and how-to-find-guides are INVALUABLE in finding some of the more off-the-beaten-path places.

Big Ten and Little Ten, continued:

Here's the Ski Train winding thru the curves, amid the moon-like landscape that the Front Range is in mid-winter:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album21/abg.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album21/abg.jpg)


Here's a view from Amtrak #5 of the infamous hopper car windbreak along the apex of Big Ten's curve:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album71/acd.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album71/acd.jpg)

Here's an idea of just how much elevation Big and Little Ten gain from Rocky Siding to Clay Siding: (Yes, that ONE train!)

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aav.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aav.jpg)

Here's a shot looking from a pull-off at CO 93, right at Rocky Siding's east switch, looking at a BNSF Manifest grinding upgrade towards the apex of Big Ten:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aaq.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aaq.jpg)

Next Up, Clay Siding!

[BoxcabE50]

Well, now you've done it. I'm going to have to dig out my old WB Rio Grande video. Hope it still works!

:D

Boxcab E50

[HemiAdda2d]

Clay Siding!
Known as Fireclay, when a short spur used for mining of the aforementioned mineral, the buildings are long since removed. The siding is troublesome for loaded coal trains, so they are now restricted to await meets on the main. The siding once tried to slide out from under a coal load waiting there.....

Here's a view from CO 72, of a coal load easing down grade thru Clay:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/UP/aaa.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/UP/aaa.jpg)

Here's a shot from the place I shot the ex-DRGW GP60's with the local. Shows Little Ten, Rocky, and in the background, Clay Siding:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aad.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/aad.jpg)

I don't have much from this area, as it is very visible to railfans, and I tend to seek out the hard shots!

Next up, Tunnel 1!

[HemiAdda2d]

The first Tunnel in the Tunnel District!

I have found a VERY informative book, and I may have already posted about it here, but I will again. It is a MUST HAVE for ANY D&RGW fan, much less for a railfan looking for a different shot!!!

Rio Grande Secret Places, Vol 1: The Tunnel District by RC Farewell (http://www.nscalesupply.com/CRM/CRM-55-6.html). You MUST BUY THIS BOOK if you want to know the history of this line!

OK, enough ranting, back to 356' long, sharply curved T1!
Here's the Ski Train climbing from the overpass of CO 72 to T1:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album21/abi.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album21/abi.jpg)

The last light of the day bathes the east portal of T1 in brilliant sunshine, as viewed from Amtrak #5:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album71/abt.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album71/abt.jpg)

Here's Amtrak #5 approaching the west portal of T1, as seen from my sleeping car: (west Clay is visible in the over-exposed portion of the shot to the left)

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album71/aak.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album71/aak.jpg)

From atop the west portal of T1, an eastbound load approaches, with Plainview just out of sight in the background. This is one of my most favorite shots:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/abe.thumb.jpg (http://www.railimages.com/albums/album62/abe.jpg)

Next stop, Plainview!

[ 29. September 2004, 00:10: Message edited by: HemiAdda2d ]

[HemiAdda2d]

Most of these shots have bad links... The Moffat Route Tour (http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=73750) is updated with a few shots I forgot I had... Enjoy!

[JASON]

Hate to harp here Jere,but the sooner you get a book together the better off all us SRGF's will be ;)
Did you go on a major DRGW search or something?It's great to see all these old threads re-vived.
Btw,I just won Secret Place vol 2,finally have vol.1 & 2 :)

[HemiAdda2d]

I lit the DRGW forum up last night.. Canyatell?:);)
The only book I really REALLY want now, is 'Portrait of a Silver Lady'...