Wintry Weekend on the Moffat (5 IMG)

[CopCarSS]

Hey Gang,

Old Man Winter paid a visit to Colorado this weekend. I spent the better part of Saturday chasing stuff on the Moffat sub. In no particular order, I encountered rain, snow, sleet, graupel, wind, cold, fog, etc. etc. I've always found that the worse weather, the more interesting the photos, though. Here are my 5 favorites from the outing:

First up is this shot take at the Tunnel itself:

Flickr Link

I chased this particular train all the way back down to Arvada. Here's a shot of it at Blue Mountain Road that I liked:

Flickr Link

There was a BNSF manifest (the PVODEN, I believe?) following this guy down the mountain. Here's a shot of him at Chemical:

Flickr Link

This train met its westbound counterpart at Leyden. Here's a shot of the westbound as it climbs towards Tunnel No. 1:

Flickr Link

Finally, I got a real treat to finish the day up. I caught an unpatched Espee unit leading a westbound coal empty. It's too bad this didn't show up until late in the day. If I had had a little more daylight to work with, I would have followed him all the way back up to the tunnel. Alas, this shot at Blue Mountain Road was all I was able to get:

Flickr Link

As always, C&C more than welcome!

[tatans]

Graupel ?

[CShaveRR]

Graupel, or groppel (either one is correct, but graupel is more correct...spell-check hates 'em both) is the name for soft hail or snow pellets...supercooled water freezing around a snowflake. 

Oh...and Chris, the weather does make for interesting and outstanding shots.  If I were a photographer, I'd be glad if you left it home if you venture this way!

[edblysard]

Ok..

Now that you have shown us you can make a cruddy day look like fun, and take great photos in weather most of us would stay inside for…

Come down to the swamp and make the bayous and refineries look that good.

Ya get a free can of Deet in the bargin!

Really like the tunnel shot, puts it all together just right!

[zugmann]

Snow when it's still pretty, and not a pain in the butt. 

I liked those days. 

[ChuckCobleigh]

OK, Chris, now you make me want to kick the thermostat up a couple of degrees, and it isn't even that cold down here yet.  Kind of like only watching "Fargo" or "Dr. Zhivago" in the summer.

Excellent, as usual, if a bit chilling.

[samfp1943]

tatans

Graupel ?

 

Isn't that the stuff (mystery meat?) that they fry and serve for breakfast in Pennsylvania? 

[switch7frg]

Chris,  your photos are of the quality of  a photografer., some which have passed on  and those who are still with us.   I have seen those shots in person while driving across Wyo. in mid winter in years past. ~~~ Only this time  Iam  warm & cozy here at home.  Green River Wyo. has some  great photo ops.( east or west of).  Did you have a jug of warm cider with you , and a shutter warmer too?? They are all great shots, nice work.

 

                                                               Respectfully, Cannonball

[K. P. Harrier]

CopCarSS (11-12):

Cool photos … in more than one way!

On the first photo, the signals have been fully UP-ized since the Rio Grande days.  They imply a siding is within the tunnel.  Do you know if there is a siding inside now?

I went through Moffat tunnel on the Rio Grande Zephyr in 1982, and saw NO room for such a siding within it, so suspect the signals only repeat what is 10 or so miles away near the west portal.

In the late 1970’s I was at the west portal a couple of times, which was then in the middle of nowhere!  In October 2010 when the location was visited again, I could not believe the growth!

I would imagine the east portal is still rather secluded, which must have been just dandy for your winter land photo session!

Thanks for sharing.

K.P.