From Colorado's Front Range, to the peaks and mountain passes of the Rocky Mountains, the high iron of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad traversed some of the most scenic areas of the United States. In this presentation, videographer Bob Rivard takes us on a journey across D&RGW's system, between the years 1985 and 1987. We’ll cover Denver to Glenwood Springs, the western portion of Tennessee Pass, and Soldier Summit in Utah. The Rio Grande’s iconic “tunnel motors” are seen and heard doing battle with steep grades, winding through tight canyons, and running across wide open valleys. A great supporting cast of DRGW GP40s, GP40-2s, and SD50s are also seen in action, giving the viewer a good overview of Rio Grande motive power in the 1980s. Bob also captures the Utah Railway lugging heavy coal trains over Soldier Summit, with classic F45 and SD45 locomotives in charge. Highlights include the Moffat Tunnel, Tennessee Pass Tunnel, Belden, Minturn, Glenwood Canyon, Helper, Soldier Summit, and Gilluly. This video was updated and re-edited in June of 2023 at the studios of C. Vision Productions.
