DRGW 5771 with the westbound Rio Grande Zephyr at Grand Junction, CO, Apr 16, 1983 (final westbound run Apr 23, eastbound Apr 24). The train less than two weeks from its final run, with the train... (more)

DRGW 5771 leading the last run of westbound train 17 at Clay, Co, Apr 23, 1983. A sad day indeed.

DRGW 5771 leads the eastbound Rio Grande Sephyr through Dotsero, CO, on Apr 1, 1983.

DRGW 5771 at Glenwood Springs, CO, with train #117. Nov 21, 1977.

DRGW 5771 leads the westbound Rio Grande Zephyr on a snow day, Mar 26, 1983. Clay, CO.

With a far different skyline than today, DRGW 5771 with the Rio Grande Zephyr crosses the Platte River at Denver, CO, June 19, 1982.

DRGW 5771 leads the westbound Rio Grande Zephyr at Tolland, CO, on May 5, 1979.

Saturday mornings during the winter were doubly busy at Denver Union Station. As soon as the Rio Grande Zephry leaves for Salt Lake City, the Rio Grande Ski Train will board, and wil... (more)

GREEN RIVER UT Aug 22 1981 -- The Rio Grande Zephyr rolls west through Green River.

The Rio Grande Zephyr

The overhead slide detector fences are ever vigilant as eastbound Rio Grande Zephyr Train 18 negotiates one of the most rugged canyons in Colorado — awesome Gore Canyon. The canyon was named a... (more)

DRGW train 18, the Rio Grande Zephyr heads east near Thistle, UT on July 3, 1977.

What became America's sweetheart as a holdout from joining Amtrak, D&RGW's westbound "Rio Grande Zephyr" was just doing its thing delighting passengers in remote and rugged Gore Canyon, Colo. on ... (more)

Complete with stand-in former UP diner, the westbound Rio Grande Zephyr exits Tunnel 42 at Radium in December 1981.

In 1982, eleven years after the beginning of Amtrak, one could still experience what fine passenger train service was like in the pre-Amtrak era. "Rio Grande Zephyr" was discontinued the following... (more)