An eastbound BNSF manifest freight approaches Leyden, Colorado, on a snowy March 10, 2013. The front range of the Rocky Mountains stands out against the blue sky in the background.

Shamu
Four 6,000 horsepower Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC-H locomotives, along with EMD’s test car, head up to East Portal, Colorado, for some high-altitude testing on January 30, 1... (more)

Amid blooming wildflowers and green grasses, a loaded UP coal train descends from the high mountain coal mines toward the city of Denver. To the left, the train disappears around a horseshoe curve... (more)

Leaving Leyden, Colorado, under angry skies, Union Pacific westbound manifest MDVRO ascends toward the Front Range on the afternoon of October 29, 1999. Six locomotives power the train, led by EMD... (more)

In the warm light of a Front Range sunrise, a UP coal empty is draped around the mouth of Coal Creek Canyon west of Denver. The lead locomotive, clad in a special Operation Life Saver paint scheme... (more)

Union Pacific’s west local is eastbound at mile 14.5 west of Leyden, Colorado, on July 8, 2012. The Front Range of the Rockies is in the background, and is cloaked in ominous looking clouds.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s MDENSTO (Denver to Stockton, California, manifest) freight curves over the east switch at Leyden, Colorado, on October 9, 1999. Powering the westbound freight is S... (more)

Union Pacific’s West Local returns to Denver heading downgrade at mile 14.5 west of Leyden, Colorado, on July 8, 2012. Three rebuilt GP40-2s (two rebuilt from Southern Pacific GP40s, while one i... (more)

The sun rises directly over the Denver skyline, just a blip on the horizon from this vantage point about 16 miles away. Below, a coal train is stretched out over Big Ten Curve as it begins the cli... (more)

Leaving the flatlands of eastern Colorado and the Denver skyline quickly behind, an empty UP coal train storms uphill back toward the mines deep in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Though not ea... (more)

Leaving Denver in its wake
The westbound Rio Grande Ski Train heads out of Denver just west of Leyden, Colorado, during sunrise on a bright January 6, 2001.

An eastbound Union Pacific coal train approaches Leyden, Colorado, early in the morning on February 11, 2001. The train passes by the now gone searchlight signals at mile 14.5 with a Chicago and N... (more)

Sunrise on January 23, 2005, sees a westbound Union Pacific coal train climbing out of Leyden, Colorado, at mile 14.5 on the Moffat Tunnel Subdivision.

Amtrak Train #6, the eastbound California Zephyr, exits the last tunnel it will encounter on the Moffat District. Ahead lies Big Ten Curves, after that it's smooth sailing for an on-time arrival i... (more)

A relatively short BNSF manifest heads uphill just about to enter the first tunnel of the Moffat Sub. The rear of the train is visible having just passed through the cut on the opposite side of Co... (more)