Due to a massive landslide that closed the D&RGW mainline at Thistle, the Rio Grande Zephyr's final run from Salt Lake City to Denver detoured via Union Pacific's Overland Route through Wyoming. W... (more)

A place where time stood still.

Soon after arriving off a manifest from Hinkle, Oregon, UP SD9043MAC #8242 was recruited into local transfer service in the Salt Lake City area. The 8242 is the one and only SD9043MAC on the UP to... (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)

A Union Pacific engineering special running from Salt Lake City to Denver heads east by one of the more iconic landmarks along the D&RGW. The Rio Grande Heritage engine is on hand to keep the memo... (more)

This work train of company vehicles, loaded at Indio, California is headed east to Evanston, Wyoming. The lead SD60M #2331 is really showing it's age (blt. UP 6173 in June 1989).

The RGZ dashes through fresh snow and ducks under US Highway 6 at Detour.

Back in the 1980's, it seemed the EMD F40PH locomotive would be around forever. The combined California Zephyr-Desert Wind-Pioneer train climbs Rio Grande's 2% grade through Detour on the way east... (more)

It's been a very long time since the last train of Carbon County coal departed the tipple at Clear Creek, Utah. Apparently the D&RGW had faith that one day the mine would reopen so they left the t... (more)

Looking spiffy in new image paint, a Western Pacific U30B awaits an assignment in Rio Grande's Roper Yard in South Salt Lake. The WP 3063 was built the WP 763 by GE in April 1969 equipped with EMD... (more)

Rio Grande's 'Salina Local' slows to make a pickup in the D&RGW yard at Provo. The ultra short train began its mid day journey at Roper in South Salt Lake. After a sizable pickup at Provo, the loc... (more)

While the afternoon switcher works the drill track, a westbound manifest sets out its train at Rio Grande's Provo Yard. One of the benefits to photographing trains in the Provo area are the incred... (more)

On a delightful summer morning, the eastbound Rio Grande Zephyr tops Soldier Summit, 95 miles east of Salt Lake City and 475 miles west of Denver.

The MWCNP-03, lead by UP 7490 is about to make a pick up at North Yard while the ARONSR-04, lead by UP 6781 passes by with 81 empty autoracks for the Norfolk Southern in Kansas City.

The Denver & Rio Grande Western attempted to discontinue service of its Rio Grande Zephyr passenger trains between Grand Junction and Salt Lake City many times. One of the 'close calls' happened i... (more)