Amtrak No. 5, the California Zephyr, crosses over McDonald Creek at the base of imposing Dodge’s Bluff just east of Utaline, Colorado, on July 18, 1990. Four EMD F40PHs haul the 16-car train westbound through impressive Ruby Canyon. My future wife and I were on out first western vacation together and planned to camp above Utaline in Ruby Canyon when a nasty thunderstorm blew in about the time No. 5 was due. As the train rolled by below, it was pretty much time to get out of there—numerous lightning strikes, blowing sand and no cover was making tent camping very unappealing up there. Needless to say, we spent that night in a Grand Junction hotel.
