Shortly after sunrise on January 30, 1966, here comes Rio Grande’s famous Ski Train, just past Rocky siding and ready to dig into the 2 percent grade that begins at Little Ten Curve. In the next few miles the five laboring F7’s – 7,500 hp in all - will lift 21 cars plus a steam generator some 350 feet to Coal Creek Canyon, the start of the real climb into the Rockies. Aboard today are some 750 restless, rowdy skiers, mostly kids eager to get onto the slopes at Winter Park. So rowdy, in fact, that starting next year the Grande will employ three deputy sheriffs to keep order on the train. Coupled just behind the diesels, the steam generator is a reminder of steam days, converted from the tender of one of the Grande’s big L-105 Challenger 4-6-6-4’s. Too long for station platforms in Denver, the 22-car train will eventually shrink to something more manageable and under UP in 2009 will disappear forever. Cost of a ticket in 1966: $3.10, round trip. Cost of a ticket today: Priceless.
Not
just heritage schemes, not just commemorative schemes - this album is devoted to some of the world's most interesting paint schemes, past or present.
