Wow. All I can say, is that DRGW really built a spectacular railroad up to the East Portal. I railfanned as much of it as I could see, and got some really stellar shots. Whaddaya think? Just a few miles from Pinecliffe, CO: East Portal: And my favorite, a few miles from Rollinsville, CO:
Kinda sorta still is: The Ski Train!!!! You shoulda seen the looks on the passengers' faces seeing the same truck at every crossing, literally hauling butt down the road!
The DRGW colors still fly!!! Barely. There's still a small handful of DRGW locomotives roaming around. Mainly in Utah it seems. The last of the T-Motors are in Helper, UT, in "Dirt Train" service. There's 2-3 Geeps in the Denver area that work switching out of Denver, west to Rocky Flats, east, toward what used to be Stapleton Airport, and south toward Sadalia. I think Colorado Springs rates its own locomotive for switchingn the various industries there. I could be wrong on this informnation though. The gang on the Rio Grande list at Yahoo do a great job of keeping list members updated as to where the last of the DRGW units can be found, where they're headed to/from etc.......As for the Ski Train, that I believe, is still privately owned by Phil Anschutz. Could also be wrong about this as well. Hemi-- Love the photos of the Ski Train as well!!! Especially the overhead shot on the Big 10 curves!
Keith, In one week I caught like 5 GP40-2's in the 3100 series, all unpatched, and all working in the Stapleton area
Maybe next weekend, I'll make the trip down that way! Hopefully, I'll catch something in action. Or ask the list where these units can be found, mso I can go after them!! The GP's are a nice catch!! But, as Alan questions: Isn't the 3114 succumbing to Yellow fever?? Except for the color of battery covers, it's still a DRGW unit!! [Edit to add] - Here's a favorite DRGW shot of mine, taken in Denver, under 48th street bridge!! [ 15. March 2004, 09:45: Message edited by: Keith ]
The overhead shot of Big 10 was shot from that dirt road that follows the inside of that canyon. It just winds its way up to higher elevation, and right after it pokes back out to the front of the canyon, you'll see a beautiful shot, but requires hiking down a steep slope. The results are well worth it. The grade crossing just off 72 is where you wanna be.
Hemi: Sounds like the area around the Blue Mountain grade crossing just south of Co 72. Nice place for photos though!! [ 16. March 2004, 08:54: Message edited by: Keith ]
Great pics guys, Jerry looks like you had an excellent time, did you do a day trip or were you there for a few days?
