DRGW 3105 leads an eastbound manifest up the western grade of Tennessee pass.

An eastbound Rio Grande manifest pauses at Minturn before climbing the steep grade to Tennessee Pass.

The Rio Grande had full faith in its ability to get freight trains over the road in a timely fashion. Train 87 left Denver about an hour ahead of the Rio Grande Zephyr, and didn’t expect ... (more)

If there was a single train that was a poster child for the Rio Grande’s operational philosophy of short, fast trains, it was train 87. Seen here approaching the western end of the Dotsero Cutof... (more)

Rio Grande GP40-2s No. 3105 and 3116 pull the overnight Salt Lake City to Denver 'Railblazer' train No. 102 along the Mapleton Bench east of Springville on May 25, 1989. Among the piggyback mix ar... (more)

Approaching Tunnel 1, the Rio Grande Ski Train marches up the Moffat Tunnel Subdivision east of Plainview, Colorado, on the morning of January 7, 2001. Pinch-hitting for ailing F40PH No. 242 on to... (more)

The Rio Grande Ski Train rounds the curve westbound out of Clay, Colorado, early on the morning of January 7, 2001. Big 10 Curve is visible on the mesa in the middle background, where the train wa... (more)

Five Rio Grande GP40-2s lead a 252 train up the Mapleton Bench east of Springville on Aug. 16, 1988.

On the morning of January 7, 2001, the Rio Grande Ski Train marches up the Moffat Subdivision approaching Tunnel 1 east of Plainview, Colorado. Pinch-hitting for ailing F40PH No. 242 is Rio Grande... (more)

A pair of GP40-2's give a push to a westbound freight as it passes through Tunnel 1 east of Plainview, Colorado.

The Rio Grande Zephyr train No. 18 arrives at Provo the morning of July 6, 1975.

On Memorial Day '89, Rio Grande's Railblazer had just two trailers out of the Roper Piggyback Terminal in South Salt Lake. Even though this was a legal holiday, the D&RGW protected the service, ha... (more)

With plenty of help from the SP, Rio Grande's 126 train grinds its way east through the Red Narrows of Spanish Fork Canyon on Sept. 5, 1988. Utah's typically azure blue skies turned grey for weeks... (more)

On Christmas Eve '87, Rio Grande's 101 train descends a snowy Soldier Summit just west of Detour.

On a snowy Christmas Eve morning in 1987, Rio Grande train #101 kicks up a little snow at Castilla in Spanish Fork Canyon. Three box car loads of Coors Beer (from Golden, CO) are coupled behind th... (more)