DRGW CABOOSE RIDE ON 100 YEAR OLD RAIL

Ride A Rio Grande "Branch Line Freight" and Zephyr Passenger Trains
Ride on an old branch line of the Denver & Rio Grande Western built in the 1880s to serve the Colorado Fuel & Iron limestone quarry at Monarch, Colorado. Originally part of the D&RGW's 3 foot narrow-gauge system, the 15 mile line connected with the rest of the narrow-gauge network at Poncha Junction, on the Marshall Pass line. The upper part of the Branch was on a 4.5% grade and included both an "S" curve and a double switchback to reach an elevation of over 10,000 ft. The line was converted to standard-gauge in 1956 after the narrow-gauge mainline from Salida to Gunnison was closed in the early 1950s. From that time forward, the line operated as a standard-gauge branch of the D&RGW until the early 1980s when Colorado Fuel & Iron closed its blast furnaces at Pueblo, Colorado. Operations on the Monarch Branch subsequently ceased and the rails were pulled up a short time later.
Here are some all time images of Rio Grande GP-30s shot from the Caboose on a local! These are all visions you can no longer see today! At 5 minutes we take a ride on the Rio Grande Zephyr Passenger Train thru Glenwood Canyon!

[@charlessmileyvideo]

More Rio Grande at our website www.cspmovies.com

[@troy.peters]

Graffiti free cars! Wonderful ! !

[@robertmoir5695]

Thank you Mr Smiley The Rio Grande was a great railroad I enjoy the memories of the Rio Grande Railroad

[@robertmoir5695]

I like the caboose So nice are the memories of the train caboose Especially the commercial passenger trains with freight trains parked on adjacent tracks and the caboose at the end

[@johne.worsham8608]

I, too, miss the Rio Grande Railroad and the cabooses that brought up the tail end of the trains, whether long or short, always a caboose the way a train should look !!

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

Fantastic Trip 😊

[@johne.worsham8608]

I enjoyed riding on the California Zephyr from Grand Junction to Denver and a few trips from Grand Junction to Rifle with my school class. Sure wish the streamliner zephyrs would come back into service again.

[@MilePost106]

Do I miss those days of the caboose and graffiti free rail car except for the hobo signs written in chalk.

[@jeffpierce725]

Thanks for posting this Charles! Rio Grande: Ruler of the Rockies!

[@user-mb9mo8ku8w]

Many Thanks for this memory tickler, And your details! Watched the Monarch branch in its heyday and then being torn up ~ being a harbinger of Tennessee Pass. Rode the Zephyr dozens of times in all seasons- hundreds of great pictures... remember the rainbow trout on silver service and white tablecloths?

[@galaxieman1964]

GP30 3001 is still working away on the Central Montana RR as their 3001.

[@Stradioti]

Epic

[@ryan_danger]

Hey there! Big fan. Just here to say that Glenwood Canyon is mislabeled in this video, as it is actually Debeque Canyon. You can see Mt. Garfield in the background. I would Imagine this video was shot between Tunnel and Cameo. I assert this because I haul freight trains over this line today. Cheers

[@renegadetenor]

Today is so freaking stupid compared to yesteryear...

[@troy.peters]

Mostly, but I do enjoy KZbin RR videos.