Was leaving the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel when I came across this at Rollinsville. To good to pass up, had to stop, film, and share! Enjoy the EMD Wind-Up!
Thanks for the excellent HD video! I moved from Boulder 30 years ago, but still like to catch the trains on the Moffat Sub when I visit. Sad that they're now UP yellow, though, instead of the old Rio Grande. Oh, well -- life goes on.
Our family spent many Summers Vacationing Up above Pinecliffe CO, and we would drive over to see the Moffat Tunnel. The Hobo’s were plentiful and would take their t-shirts off to tie around their faces to breathe through since the 7 mile tunnel would take approximately 15-20 minutes for freight trains to get through it. Amtrak takes 12-15 minutes to go through it on the California Zephyr.
I used to pick up and deliver crews there a couple times a week. Very beautiful country. All the engines on the front is called a power move. I've seen as many as 15 engines on one train.
I don't know a lot about the trains but I can guarantee you I would like to be the owner of that cabin at the top of the video, wheel screeches and all!!
It has become such a rare sight to see two coal trains, or any trains for that matter pass each other on the Moffat these days. The line is only averaging 6 trains a day recently including the two Amtrak's and BNSF manifest trains.
"When I was a child, my family would travel...." to Rollins Pass, and we drove the Moffat Tunnel railway bed -- 6 kids, 4 adults & an Irish Setter in a 1969 Dodge station wagon.... "critical on the right!" was the commentary I remember (my father, afraid of heights... with his childhood friend driving the car...). Here's to the memories of my dad, Jim, and Sandy's dad, Rolly... originally of Oak Park, IL.
Help me understand - 8730 is on a siding waiting for the other train to pass? So its a siding and further on its single track? Why 5690 stop at 10:30? To let 8730 pass? Normal for the operator to alight from the cab and stand by the track? I have seen lots of aircraft spotter videos, but gotta say train spotting is awesome.
I'll try to clarify this up a bit for you. The Moffat Subdivision is the subdivision in which these two trains were operating on. It is a single track subdivision. In other words there is one single mainline in which all rail traffic traveling over this specific subdivision operates. However naturally having more then one train on the subdivision at one time you will have meets which is what you saw here. The track the loaded unit coal train was entering is what's called a siding. Sidings are often times electronically controlled by a dispatch center located dozens if not hundreds of miles away who is planning where trains will ultimately meet at. Dispatch planned for these two trains to meet here so dispatch gave the loaded unit coal train advanced warning that at this specifically location they would meet the empty unit coal train. Consequently they slowed there train and entered into the siding which again was electronically controlled by dispatch. The train crews had no control over it. The loaded unit coal train enters the siding and stops. The switch that was open to allow the train to enter the side is electronically closed by dispatch allowing the mainline in which the empty unit coal train was stopped on to then be allowed to depart and continue on there way once they were given the proper signal indications aka a green signal. The empty unit coal train departs and continues it's way up the mountain while the loaded unit coal train that is sitting parking in the siding will continue to sit there until dispatch gives them permission to depart again. Dispatch will then open the switch at the other end of the siding (where the loaded unit coal trains front end is) allowing it to then leave the siding and continue back out on the mainline continuing it's decent down the subdivision. Once the loaded unit coal train has completely left the siding the switch will then be closed by dispatch. To answer your question about the guy standing beside #8730 that was the conductor (not the engineer) that was performing what's called a "roll by inspection" in which as the loaded unit coal train is entering the siding he's giving it a visual inspection to check for any obvious problems. This is a very common practice during train meets. The engineer operating the locomotives will always remain in the cab since he is legally required to stay with the train unless it is properly secured. Hopefully that clarifies what's going on here. I've worked for Union Pacific as an engineer for approach 17 years now so meets like this are just part of the job.
We railroaders never get tired. Great memories. Dad was a brakeman & ran the switch engine in the yard on Wednesday & I (allof 5-6 yrs old got to pull the horn (2 toots Barry)
Loaded coal trains are limited to 20 mph downgrade (eastbound) from the tunnel. The other limitation is coupler strength, which is why you often see midtrain helpers. 24,000HP is NOT required for a westbound train of empties, so I suspect what you see here is an anomoly. Good camera work. Nice use of pan and zoom both!
The train that was in the hole( siding )had 6 locomotives the last 2 were not running this was an empty,now the loaded coal drag only had 2 locomotives on the point and 2 dpu's pushing 4 total. My question is was that a power shuttle or shuffle? if it wasn't,why would they want to pull 800,000+lbs of dead weight? I would like know.
The locomotives at the front of each train are connected through "multiple unit" connections commonly refereed to as MU connections. It allows the lead locomotive to control all of the trailing locomotives. So whatever the lead locomotive does, the others do too. The locomotives in the middle or rear of the train are controlled remotely from the lead locomotive. Those remotely controlled locomotives can do whatever the lead locomotive does or they can be operated separately as well. It allows one crew to operate all the locomotives on the train.
Hallo, wie ist das Gewicht von so einem Kohlewaggon und wie viel kann so ein Waggon an Ladung transportieren? Ich bin in Deutschland Lokführer und mich würden die Daten sehr interessieren! Danke!! (german)
I have to say that was a great meet. The conductor had to get down to see the signal around the corner. He had to eyeball the signal. Once the other backup UP engine even up with him he was good. Empty going West supply going east. Never seen such a long coal train. We have plenty of coal here in Kentucky. I thought at first the conductor was getting out to manually switch the track but no not the case. Apparently a automatic switcher. Made interesting analysis.
I sure love seeing a big rig or locomotives pulling a load and really pouring that black smoke. I sure miss the old SD40's, GP9's, 7's, and 38's from when I was a kid. They had a particular sound and always blew lots of smoke, and I think they were better looking too. Although I do like the square bulldog look of the SD70AC's, makes them very macho
Great Video!👍🏼 This will be such an inspiration for my route on Trainz: A New Era! Also I noticed the 6706 has a bit of black on it. I’m wondering if it’s an ex-Southern Pacific unit.
Rob is not missing much, Boulder has become a busy place. Much of what he remembers is gone- torn down and replaced with a bunch of who? what? and whatever... This spot is just 25 miles or so away. The average home is now well over a million dollars- too many people... Juanitas is gone, Eads news (after 100 years) is gone, the Colorado Book store is now a Walgreens, and anything old Boulder, is gone, except for the fucking Mall. "Oh well, life goes on" is right...
General Dynamics stockholder meeting shares one thirty a share thirty % of the shares conrail consolidated RR holding two million to post the one thirty of 30% what majority one third hold of stock CISR RR banker as shareholder at one third hold of stock CISR RR USBank Williams act Clayton act OSAC LLC bond segoration damages levy rights under negotiations treble damages net 900 million at mid fight for conrail
Hi from Australia great video but can anyone tell me why there is 6 locos on an empty train.are they just returning to mine site to make up other trains.
my guess is that they are going back to get a another load on which they will be required, as was pointed out above if you look at them pass on the first few appear to be running
Thanks for your time. I am unable to walk at this time. Waiting on medical department. Watching this keeps my mind off my pain helps relax. Because I will never be able to do what you are doing. I enjoy this no thought process. 100,000 Tom coal cars on the move. Thanks.
Excellent. Thank you. Answers the age-old question, how slow can your coal train go? Even the conductor has to get down to see. Curious minds want to know.
