This is perhaps the final look at one of the most incredible railroad
lines in the United States. On August 23, 1997 Union Pacific ran the
last through train over this former Rio Grande main line, possibly the
end of "the big show" of railroading on this historic D&RGW Colorado route.
Fortunately, our cameras were there when the railroad was still
running full tilt, and we see everything from the manifest to coal and
taconite trains. Lots of mainline diesel action!
Minturn was still a busy
place with helpers being cut in and out. Our video shows all the line
threatened with closure, from Dotsero east to Canon city.
See the depths of Eagle River Canyon, the 3% climb to Tennessee Pass
(and a train with 10 locomotives), Colorado's highest peaks, the
Arkansas River Canyon, and the Royal Gorge. This spectacular railroad
may now be silent, but the trains still roar on your TV!
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and Dotsero to Minturn
8:54 Minturn
18:18 Minturn to Pando
27:37 Pando to Tennessee Pass
42:03 Tennessee Pass to Princeton
1:03:00 Princeton to Salida
1:11:16 Salida to Parkdale
1:19:31 Parkdale through Royal Gorge to Canon City