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If all goes as planned on my next cross-country trip, I'll be returning eastbound on the CA Zephyr. I know from taking it westbound that it's gorgeous on both sides through the Rockies and Utah red desert, that the Colorado River rafting is mainly on the south side, and the best views crossing the Sierra Nevada, esp of Donner Lake, are on the north side. But what about the differences going east? For instance, what about approaching Denver? Thanks for your advice
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Approaching Denver it really doesn't mattter. The rail bed turns and twists so you see the city back and forth from one side to the other. I hope this is understandable and not clear as mud!! If it's dark the scene with all the city lights is beautiful
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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You don't say what time of year you'll be travelling. So it *might* be dark as you approach Denver, but it will be light if you're travelling in summer and the train is on time (and recently there was indeed a daylight descent of the Rockies, albeit dark by the time Denver was reached).
There are some great views to the right (south) as you go through the Sierra Nevadas, as well as to the left.
The river rafting through Glenwood Springs is to the left (north).
Mostly the views coming down the front range will be on the left (east), but as Train Lady says, it will vary from side to side before that. The best place to be is in the lounge car so you can switch from one side to the other easily.
Geoff M.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Thanks everyone. I do plan to sit in the lounge car, but it is so busy I wanted to get to the best side of the lounge car too!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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In my opinion, the LEFT side of the lounge car is the place to be when the eastbound Zephyr comes out of the pass in the Front Range and begins the long descent down to Denver. It will be dark -- the eastbound is never OT, is it? -- but the lights of the cities will sparkle like diamonds on jeweler's velvet.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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I know it's dark, George , into Denver. That is the reason I think it's so beautiful. the lights of the city make it look like a fairy land. I guess I didn't make my thoughts clear
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Oh come on you pessimists! The CZ came down the front range last week in DAYLIGHT! Okay, only just as it was a little late, but at the height of summer with the longer days it is definitely feasible.
My only nighttime descent (after 2 daylight descents) was through a layer of cloud which highly exaggerated the steep (1:50 or 2%) ruling gradient. Then we burst through the lower level of cloud to see Boulder and Denver glowing in the distance. Very serene.
Geoff M.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Geoff M: . . . the steep (1:50 or 2%) ruling gradient. Then we burst through the lower level of cloud to see Boulder and Denver glowing in the distance. Very serene.
Found on the web a couple of years ago before I made the habit of copying my sources, but part is from www.colorado.gov. I think if you do a search for Moffat Tunnel you will come up with all this and more:
Grade from milepost 14 to 50 is 2.00%, presumably compensated for curves, but it did not say so. Most of the west side climb is at 1.0% with only a few miles at 2.00%.
Elevation change from 5198 ft at milepost zero to 9239 feet at milepost 52.82, which is inside the tunnel. Another source puts the crest elevation at 9242 feet, but what is 3 feet out of 4000? This is I believe the second longest climb in the US, the longest being between Roseville CA and Donner Pass.
Based on what I found, which is from the early to mid 1950's, there are 29 tunnels on the east approach, varying in length from 78 feet to 1730 feet. Only 4 are over 1000 feet long. There are 8 tunnels on the west approach, all relatively short.
The Moffat Tunnel itself is 6.21 miles long, between mileposts 50.18 and 56.39. It was built in teh 1920's with publicly sold bonds by the Moffat Tunnel Commission. The Commission was set up by the state in 1923 and "sunseted" in 1998 with all bonds and costs paid off by 1984. It is still owned by and a source of income to the two counties through which it runs. The tunnel was holed through July 7, 1927 with the first train through in February 24, 1928 and the opening ceremony two days later. It did not become part of the through route to Salt Lake City until the Dotsero Cutoff was opened in 1934.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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