UP from Eldorato Springs to Moffat Tunnel East Portal

UP from Eldorato Springs to Moffat Tunnel East Portal - Tunnel district #2

Sponsored by:

Sponsors have no information about the layouts, sorry

Real Life Quality, unlimited length, 100s of scenes

Search For Rail Sites

Home

State Pages

Slide Show text GPS

Photographer

Backdrop Warehouse

RR State/Prov

Name of RR

Union Pacific - UP

Start point

map

Eldorado Springs

Mid point

map

Pinecliffe

End point

map

Rollinsville

Page date

m/d/y

9/15/2005

Possible backdrops

here

UP from Eldorato Springs to Moffat Tunnel East Portal - Tunnel district #2

Summary

UP (Union Pacific) on the climb to the East portal of the Moffat Tunnel also known as the Tunnel District with 30 tunnels. Very picturesque, very busy and very difficult to access.

Union Pacific on the climb to the Moffat Tunnel crossing the continental divide. The East side is also known as the Tunnel District with 30 tunnels. Very picturesque and very difficult to access as there are few roads and the terrain wooded, steep and rocky cliffs east of Rollinsville however west of Rollinsville the access to the Moffat Tunnel and Rollins Pass is great and much can be done with 2 wheel conventional car. The Altitude at Coal Creek on the east is about 6100 ft and the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel is about 9200 ft. The western slope is a very gradual down grade and mostly open fields and scrub following the Colorado River. The east side also is the branch for the ghost Rollins Pass Railroad used before the Moffat Tunnel was built. There is great railfanning, hiking, 4 wheel driving, and superb scenery. A good book is Rio Grande Secret Places by R.C. Farewell ISBN 0-918654-55-6

click on image for an expanded view

We will try to return to this location and get more photos of the tunnels but it will be a difficult task. There is considerable traffic and care must be taken around the tracks. The area around the Moffat tunnel is very busy at the east portal. On the west is is not so interesting as it is in Winter Park and trains zip in and out without stopping.

click on image for an expanded view

BackDrop Warehouse supplied most of the photographs although some were given by other photographers, railroad personnel and contractors. This area is difficult to access as there are no roads. You must hike in over rugged terrain. There are trails in some areas but some require a bushwack. There are some lightly marked trails around tunnels in a few cases but most require bushwack. We don't recommend walking through tunnels as a meet with 3 bright lights could ruin your day and you will be out of favor with the railroad.

click on image for an expanded view

The information contained here is the sole responsibility of the writer. It is the writer''s responsibility to not trespass on private land or photograph land and objects that are not available to the public. The writer assumes only limited responsibility as we will remove any offending article after being notified. We will remove any article that we feel is not in the best interests of public information. We will remove any article that a land owner or equipment owner feels is not in their best interest after we are notified by email that they wish to have the article removed and reason. We will verify that the email is from the owner. All articles are displayed on this web as is. We accept no responsibility for the contents of the article with the exception of removing offending articles after being notified by email with traceable source and reason. For further information on liability and terms click here.