One thing I like about the trains that run through the mountains here, is that it’s living history. The Union Pacific Moffat Subdivision (as it is known today) was originally built around 1903 and is still in use today. That makes it roughly 110 years old.
On September’s outing with Rob and Sherrie (I’m a little behind in updating this blog), we picked up where we left off from our July outing when we explored the eastern side of Moffat Tunnel (6.1 miles long, under the Continental Divide) and the old route over Rollins Pass.
East Portal Moffat Tunnel, November 2010
We headed over to the west side of the Moffat Tunnel, in Winter Park. As luck would have it, we caught Amtrak’s California Zephyr emerging from the tunnel. (It helps to have a scanner radio to hear the train communications.) Compared to the east portal of the tunnel with is large concrete structure and huge venting system, the west portal is unassuming.
Amtrak #5 "Califorina Zephyr" emerging from the Moffat Tunnel
Because this is a photo heavy post the rest are behind the cut. And some of these photos benefit by clicking to see the larger versions.
