Big Train Tours - Second Generation Pioneer: Rio Grande GP30 No. 3011

Welcome to another Big Train Tour at the Colorado Railroad Museum! This week, we’ll be taking a look at a diesel locomotive placed in service in the early 1960s, Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 3011. Intended to pull freight trains “through the Rockies, not around them,” this Electro-Motive-built diesel served the Rio Grande and its successor into the 1990s, well after the railroad was merged into the Southern Pacific Railroad. Today this pioneering model GP-30 diesel locomotive is proudly displayed at the Museum, serving as a reminder of 1960s innovation from Colorado’s not-too-distant past.
Join the Museum's Executive Director, Paul Hammond as we explore our subject “big train” which helped usher in railroading’s second generation of diesel locomotives here in the Centennial State.
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In 2023, the Museum is offering Train Rides every Saturday and Goose Rides the first and third Tuesday each month, mid-January thru mid-May! Follow the Museum on Facebook, KZbin, Instagram and Twitter to catch all of our new & unique content!
Music by ‪@Hyce777‬!
Edited by ‪@akaBoG‬!
Outro voiceover by Dave Schaaf.
#crrm #coloradohistory #railroadhistory #goldencolorado #trains #visitdenver #rgs #gallopingeese

[@Looney3987]

Hyce's music is perfect for any CRRM video. Great job bringing Colorado railroading back to life!

[@JoeMartinez-zu4ck]

I grew up in the eighty's and nintys lived in Buena Vista and Salida Colorado and as a kid I use to love watching these trains back in and around 1985 when Tennessee pass was in full use by Rio grande my step father use to work for Denver and Rio grande rail road with the steel gang dropping rail and still to this day I still love trains

[@GP30_Foamer]

3011’s one of my favorite diesels in the collection, tied with 5771. Gotta love a GP30!

[@grande1184]

I’m a 43 year Rio Grande retiree. I love the Railroad museum and want to see more of it. I would like to visit with the museum people about some history. Keep up the great work. Would also like to connect with some Grande people.

[@theshapeexists]

My grandfather was a switchman for Rio Grande for many years. He retired shortly after Southern Pacific came in when he had a stroke. I remember going down there watching the piggy backs load up cars back in the 80s and 90s. He got me hooked on trains. I lived by the tracks that these trains would go by and I'd go out and wave to all the engineers, as I got to know a lot of them over the years. I miss those old gp30s and gp40s going by, and the sound of those old EMD switchers chugging along in the yard.

[@danielholden-storey5107]

Was this the loco which starred in 'Runaway' a tv movie released in 1973?

[@TrainFan119]

My local shortline the hartwell used to have ex Rio Grande gp30’s. Sadly I never got to see them before they were sold off. I’m so glad that the 3011 can carry on the legacy of those 2. The hartwell railroad also owns DRGW 3044 a gp35 still in its original paint. And drgw gp40 3086 which is currently in the sp lettering scheme

[@bluejacketwarrior2457]

I remember watching Mark's coverage of the painting last year. If I remenmber y'all painted it the same way EMD did way back when. Stensils then base coat.

[@domelinerfan]

Great job on this video, really fantastic. Keep up the great work!

[@BerlinPhysicsEngine]

Great video, loved learning about this piece of the collection

[@mattomon1045]

that was great

[@scottsnuverink2403]

Excellent video. Thank you!

[@bpeterfeso]

I have one of those u25b books. It is such a fascinating read

[@patricksheary2219]

Another excellent Big Train Tour! First rate and beautiful restoration paint job.

[@LUNITICWILL]

only place in Loveland that I can think of that 3011 was stored at was the old Sugar Beet Factory, which had been abandoned for about 14 years at that point. but the angle of that photo does not match up to the black and white aerial view from 1999 on Google Earth.

[@tomas5376]

Gracias for this tour! It would be wonderful to see 3011 completely rebuilt and able move under its own power!🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🙏🏼

[@Redwagon2012]

The engine doesn't operate

[@garyolsen3409]

I grew up in Salt Lake in the 1950's. It was a railroad town. We had a switching yard 4 blocks from our house and tracks all around. It was a big part of my growing up. We played around the tracks, against my mother's council. My dad was a shipping manager for a large company there and I remember often him talking about D&RGW. I liked the sound of those letters. It was so long ago now. I really enjoyed seeing something that was part of my childhood.

[@jasonperry7970]

I was always fascinated by 3006 being used in downtown Colorado Springs for much of the 90s. A nice tribute to General Palmer showing a locomotive from his railroad parked by the depot of the city he founded. Now the museum needs to find a BN c30-7.

[@akaBoG]

Another great episode!!!

[@robertmoir5695]

Forget it KZbin Yeah I was going to leave a nice comment because I m a rail fan I believe I will just forget it now

[@ev3goddess]

0:19 0:22 0:25 0:27

[@OfficialDenverRioGrandeWestern]

Alright who has summoned me here

[@ethanarmitage5611]

👍

[@ironhorsethrottlemaster5202]

Awesome video Colorado Railroad Museum

[@terrywallace8922]

QUICK!SOMEBODY! SAVE ONE OF THOSE SD70 ACES, AND ANSD80 MAC!

[@amtrakp4242]

Oh My Gosh! 3011 was scene in a movie!!!

[@ev3goddess]

III miss yew Raysimon€ hope yew make it back safe🏆

[@ZFRANK59]

This is a great overview of D&RGW diesels! Interesting details. Thx for sharing!

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

Going back to at least the 1940s, there was a train nicknamed,,,"The Spark Plug." auto parts. It ran from Detroit to Atlanta. B&O to Cincinnati, Southern to Atlanta. Both GM and Ford had assembly plants in the Atlanta area. We photoed the train several times in the late 1970s south of cincy. Southern power was GP30s and 35s. What an awesome sight. Hardly anything was as impressive as Southern GP30s long noseing climbing out of the OHIO river valley at notch 8.

[@ethanarmitage5611]

😁

[@gbwdude]

Man I love those locos with a mullet

[@kevineich5029]

The SD40T-2 came out in 1974, not 1972.

[@dailydoseofsunshine2319]

Honestly, i think i might prefer diesel over steam at this point. Not just in terms of cold hard mathematical savings and function but also aesthetics. I just love the way they effortlessly glide across the rails.

[@samh15]

Full electric locomotive seem magical compared to diesels. They actually move effortlessly!

[@Sunset4Semaphores]

Choo choo!!!

[@retr0bits545]

“The now vanished Rock Island?” The fallen flag has been revived since 2017 and has three Railroads in Mississippi and one Railroad in Kansas. They have several EMD locomotives but also have a C42-8!

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

One aspect not mentioned here was GM had the trade in program where old ALCO wheel sets were placed on new GP30s. A RR could save $5K on a new loco using the old trucks. The problems are,,,,GM did not warrant the old ALCO trucks. GM did not rebuild the old trucks. In the end, the RRs paid a lot more in the long run for these trade-in GP30s.(maintenance costs) I can remember seeing SOO, Southern and GM&O GP30s with ALCO trucks.

[@gonebamboo4116]

Why not spin that engine around on the turntable

[@gonebamboo4116]

SP "took over" Rio Grande, right?