The end of an era, at lease for me. D&RGW 5401, 5385, 5361 near the Roper terminal with the Denver to Salt Lake manifest. This would be my last time ever seeing a pure set of Rio Grande run the whole main. I’m glad I got to catch this, but it was a bitter pill to swallow, growing up on Utah’s Wasatch front and seeing the Rio Grande fade away. Fortunately some of the old Rio Grande people in Denver gather this set of tunnel motors for these last runs over the main. 5401 and 5385 would make their way to Helper, Utah for the last hurrah on the dirt train’s and Helper service. 5361 would be retire from the roster later in the year.
