On May 29, 2015, a little after 7PM, we sighted a Union Pacific Heritage Train coming down from the mountains on the Moffat Railroad, heading East toward Denver, Colorado. We watched and photographed it as it came around the famous "Big Ten Curve" of The Moffat Road, coming down to the plains from one of the most scenic tunnel-filled sections of this historic railroad line in Colorado. The low clouds setting off the foothills in the background of the train makes these photos so picturesque. For reference, detail maps of the "Big Ten Curve" section of the Moffat Road are available below the photos.
We first spotted the train South of Colorado Highway 72 (CO72), before it reached the famed Big Ten Curve (named for its ten-degree radius curvature) that allows a moderate rail grade to get down to the plains. The photos on the left show the train going around the Curve, and closer shots of the train cars once it reached the plains to the East of the curve (south of Rocky Flats).
To view larger images or a slideshow, click this link. For a slide show from this linked page, click on "More options" (three vertical dots in the upper right) then click the "Slideshow" item.
A legacy of railroad entrepreneur David H. Moffat, this historic Moffat Road railroad line crossed the Continental Divide via Rollins Pass, from Denver to Craig, Colorado. The UP train on this page was sighted and photographed from Colorado Highway 72 (Coal Creek Canyon) just north of the Big Ten Curve, and points east (south of Rocky Flats).
The following Union Pacific historical equipment has been identified as being in this train. Links are to PDF documents about that equipment, from UP's Historical Equipment page. They include descriptions and photos of the interiors, where appropriate.