The Rio Grande Ski Train curves out of Rocky, Colorado, on July 31, 2004. In a few moments, it will be traveling through Clay on the upper track at the top of the photo. This train was operated in... (more)

BNSF’s Stockton to Denver manifest freight with a nice clean warbonnet leading passes by in the foreground while encircling Big 10 Curve west of Rocky, Colorado, on September 6, 2001. The freigh... (more)

The westbound Ski Train is rounding the Big Ten curve near Rocky as the train makes the 56 miles trip out of Denver to Winter Park Resort. This train was 14 passenger cars and could transports 750... (more)

Union Pacific’s West Local switches Rocky Spur on July 8, 2012. Three clean Union Pacific GP40-2s (two rebuilt from Southern Pacific GP40s, while one is a former Cotton Belt locomotive) switches... (more)

On Colorado’s Moffat Tunnel Subdivision, the DPUs of two loaded coal trains are seen at the west end of Rocky siding on the afternoon of June 2, 2007. General Electric AC4400CTE No. 5651 is on a... (more)

Amtrak No. 5, the California Zephyr, passes Rocky siding on the afternoon of October 23, 2011. Three levels of track can be seen here, and Amtrak will negotiate them all within a few minutes. The ... (more)

Westbound Union Pacific train MNYRO is seen above the passing lounge car of Amtrak No. 5 at Rocky, Colorado, on February 23, 2011. Amtrak is curving through Big 10 Curve just behind me as the pass... (more)

A westbound Union Pacific coal train snakes through Little 10 Curve at Rocky, Colorado, on May 29, 2011. Little 10 Curve is less photographed and is not as dynamic than Big 10, but both are a dema... (more)

Amtrak No. 6, the California Zephyr, passes the Big 10 Curve windbreak on the afternoon of March 16, 2011. North metro Denver and Arvada is spread out in the background.

A meet and a pass
The Rio Grande Ski Train is westbound out of Rocky, Colorado, on the cloudy morning of June 28, 2008. It just met a Union Pacific coal empty at Rocky siding, and is ab... (more)

A westbound Union Pacific coal train leaves Rocky and is about to enter Big 10 Curve. Up front are seven AC4400CWs, led by former C&NW 8828, now UP No. 6730.

Amtrak No. 5, the California Zephyr is westbound, but for a moment on the approach to Big 10 Curve, is pointed east, as the train travels between Rocky and Clay on the morning of May 31, 2012. Cla... (more)

The west local traverses the Rocky Spur above an eastbound coal train powered by Southern Pacific AC4400CWs in the siding at Rocky, Colorado. Power for the West Local is Rio Grande GP30s No. 3003 ... (more)

On a line dominated by wide-cab AC units, the West Local provides a welcome relief in the form of a pair of GP40s (the 2nd of which is actually an ex-SP GP40P-2). The duo is leading a short train ... (more)

Rio Grande "Rail Blazer" overnight Salt Lake City to Denver intermodal train is almost home as it descends the Front Range at Rocky, CO.