If there was a single train that was a poster child for the Rio Grande’s operational philosophy of short, fast trains, it was train 87. Seen here approaching the western end of the Dotsero Cutof... (more)

Three Rio Grande GP9’s idle in the classification yard at Grand Junction, Colorado. Normally these units would be busy working, but these are unusual times. A landslide in Thistle, Utah has seve... (more)

Rio Grande empty hopper train 705 threads its way through Byer’s Canyon. The general freight cars ahead of the hoppers will be set out at Phippsburg for local distribution before the empties pro... (more)

The final eastbound Rio Grande Zephyr, behind schedule due to a late bus connection at Glenwood Springs, makes a final journey through De Beque Canyon. For the last several weeks of the more)

Although the motive power and crew car are different than on its predecessor California Zephyr, which began service on this route in March, 1949, the last-ever westbound Rio Grande Zephy... (more)

The Rio Grande Zephyr Passed through numerous spectacular canyons in its journey between Denver and Salt Lake City, including Gore, Little Gore, Glenwood, Ruby, and Debeque Canyons. Arguably the m... (more)

On the first day of spring, 1983, the Rio Grande Zephyr winds through a winter wonderland in Winter Park, Colorado. The Silver Lady is about halfway between the Moffatt Tunnel and its first statio... (more)

Threading the Flatirons, an eastbound Rio Grande coal train drops through Tunnels 2, 3, and 4. Only one more tunnel remains, but there’s still a lot of vertical descent between here and Denver.

Helpers on an eastbound Rio Grande coal drag have completed their work, and are along for the ride as the train descends through Plainview, Colorado.

Threading the Needle in the Flatirons: Now firmly in the tunnel district of the Moffat Road main line, the Rio Grande Zephyr’s power has cleared Tunnel 2. Before the first revenue car clears Tun... (more)

The Rio Grande Zephyr is well into its climb to the Continental Divide as it rounds the curve to enter Tunnel 1. Having already travelled a little under an hour from Denver, Number 17 still has b... (more)

The Rio Grande Zephyr rolls through the passing siding at Plainview, Colorado as the snow blows around on the plains. Just ahead is the heart of the tunnel district on the former Denver & Salt La... (more)

A pair of GP40-2's give a push to a westbound freight as it passes through Tunnel 1 east of Plainview, Colorado.

Spring has arrived, but it's still a winter wonderland in the front range as the Rio Grande Ski Train approaches Tunnel 1 east of Plainview, Colorado.

The morning fog is just lifting as the westbound Rio Grande Zephyr clears Tunnel 1 and makes its final assault on the Rockies. The next passenger train to traverse this line, after the main line i... (more)