RIDE THE OLD RIO GRANDE

Ride DRGW Zephyr Passenger Trains and A Rio Grande "Branch Line Freight"
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!

[@danielboone3770]

I LOVE the Denver Rio Grande Western railroad!

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

Great video, thanks for sharing, from Germany

[@johncox2284]

I grew up with the Rio Grande. One of my first train trips was when my mom and I rode the Prospector to Glenwood Springs and the Zephyr back to Denver. I remember the dining car steward giving me some orange chocolate sticks. My godfather was one of the company doctors for D&RGW so I got to know some people who hooked me up with the occasional cab ride.

[@robertmoir5695]

I remember the days of the D and R G W Rio Grande was a great railroad I like train videos with the caboose on the end of the freight train

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

I Just Love ❤ Trains 🚆 Great Scenery 👍 Thanks

[@jeffpierce725]

Awesome scenes! Thanks Charles!

[@ThomasCox-oi7or]

I remember driving through Glenwood Canyon with my parents long before the interstate freeway was built. Somewhere along the line was a stone monument with a passenger car model on it. I think it is now at the Colorado railroad museum in Golden.

[@huskerhank9896]

Yes

[@jamescotter5376]

Love to see more of them just beautiful

[@andywomack3414]

I have had dreams where I'm riding in a locomotive when the rails disappear and the train starts to fly, then I wake up. I talked to my dad about this, and he said he had the same dreams. My father was a locomotive engineer, and sometimes I would ride with him as a teen. 6:57

[@everettthepetractionguy4222]

Interesting history and footage on the old Rio Grange. I've been trying to find some information on the Rio Grange EMD "F-3" units. Because I want learn what paint scheme adorned the units so I'll know what my HO scale brass "F-3" "A" units should look like when I decide to have them painted. The "F-3s" I'm researching look like the set shown here 👉 07:46. But, my HO "F-3" units are the phase I versions with big side number "indicators". It's not easy doing research on vintage trains. It's hard to know where to look.

[@Qrail]

On the 8mm films, the added sound effects are not so good.

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

Better than silence….