Horsepower
Taken on the east side of Moffat Tunnel near Tolland, west of Denver on the former Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, these 6 (or more) west-bound locomotives appear to be EMD SD70s (“Electro-Motive Diesel”, once a division of General Motors). First built in 1992, close to 6000 units were built. Depending on the specific model, each unit generates 4000 – 4500hp. These being intended for western mountain use, it is likely they are 4500hp units.
These locomotives are actually driven by electric motors; the diesel engines drive generators that drive the motors.
The yellow patches on the black Southern Pacific locos date this photo to circa 1998/99 when the Southern Pacific was merged into the Union Pacific (yellow locos).
Elevation here just east of the tunnel is about 9000 ft; heading west, they’ll hit an elevation of 9200 ft inside Moffat Tunnel within a few miles. Rollins Pass, which the tunnel bores beneath, crosses the Continental Divide at 11,670ft. The west side of the tunnel is at Winter Park, a popular ski resort. The tunnel was built to replace the rails that went over Rollins Pass. Peaks in the immediate area top 12,200ft.
jd, Thank you. This is not only powerful but true. Why are we putting up with this? We have become a nation of duped people and it all is because of the current wave of pablum pukers in the pulpits. If you read scripture think about this for a while, Christ said, speaking of the pablum puking deceivers, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”.
Been through that tunnel on the California Zephyr in 2009.
Western portal at Winter Park is kinda tough to find.
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For those interested (I am), Tabernash was established about 1905 to the north of Winter Park for a predecessor railroad, once held the facilities for helper engines to get over the pass. Most of the rails are still in place; the facilities for the most part are long gone.
Cool pic!