The Rocky Mountaineer has left the Dotsero Cutoff behind as it is now on the main at the east end of the siding of Dotsero. In the distance, you can see the line that heads to Tennessee Pass. Roughly six miles of the west end of Tennessee Pass is still in service, with a local coming out of Grand Junction once or twice per week to service industries at Gypsum.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Here at the west end of the Dotsero Cutoff, the cutoff joins the west end of Tennessee Pass. It is also here that the Eagle River joins with the Colorado River. The Rocky Mountaineer is technically still on the Dotsero Cutoff as it crosses over the Eagle River, and you can see it converging with the Colorado River.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Just east of Range, the Rocky Mountaineer is crossing the Colorado River amidst some great fall colors as it continues westbound.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
If you've never taken a passenger train on the former Rio Grande, this is why you should if you get the chance! Whether it is the Rocky Mountaineer, such as here, or the California Zephyr, the scenery is breathtaking. The Mountaineer is crossing the Colorado River in Red Canyon under partly cloudy skies on a fantastic October afternoon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The westbound Rocky Mountaineer is in Red Canyon between Dell and Range, crossing over the Colorado River in fantastic afternoon lighting.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
As the Rocky Mountaineer heads west on the main track at Dell, we notice an odd sight as a single Amtrak P42DC (AMTK 205) sits on the siding. It was setout here after striking a vehicle to the west the day before. As a result, this means the siding of Range is the only siding on the 36-mile Dotsero cutoff!
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Fall colors are still near their peak here at the siding of Dell as the Rocky Mountaineer heads west on the main track. Dell is one of two sidings on the 36-mile Dotsero Cutoff between Bond and Dotsero.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The Rocky Mountaineer has backup unit RMRX 8600 leading the train west this afternoon on the main track at Dell.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
AMTK 205 was involved in a collision with a vehicle the day prior to this photo. As a result, for safety reasons, the unit was set out here in the siding at Dell. There is also another P42DC currently in the siding at Newcastle west of Glenwood from a similar incident.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Now here is something I definitely did not expect to find in the siding at Dell! A single Amtrak P42DC. Unfortunately, the eastbound Zephyr the day before struck a vehicle not far west of here on the Dotsero Cutoff. For safety reasons, the unit was set out here in the siding at Dell.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
The afternoon Zephyr is running about an hour late as it crosses over Yarmony Creek at the east end of the Glenwood Springs Subdivision, just west of the west switch of Bond.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A trio of GE's, the first of which is a former Espee AC4400CW, leads a westbound manifest around Copper Spur Road on the Craig Branch just west of Tunnel 44. It is incredible to think that this was once the mainline for the Denver and Salt Lake! And even in later years in the 1950s and 1960s, how amazing would it have been to ride the Yampa Valley Mail through here!?
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Some strong fall colors are still to be found around Copper Spur Road on the Craig Branch. This westbound, the MBOPH-05, is the only westbound manifest that runs on this portion of the branch each week. The 70-car train is coming in-and-out of Tunnel 44.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP 6362 just emerged from Tunnel 44 and is crossing Copper Spur Road as it wraps around a long curve to head back the other direction on the opposite side of the canyon.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Three units lead a 70-car train on the Craig Branch as it makes the curve to head up Copper Spur Road. The track run about 1/2 a mile up Copper Spur Road, make a 180° curve, and comes back out. This is necessary to keep the grade down.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
