Rio Grande Tennessee Pass Cabride

Belden to Tennessee Pass in the cab of a D&RGW SD40T-2 in the summer of 1995. There are four tunnel motors in the lead and four AC4400CW's in the mid-train helper set. Two of those helpers are offline. However, the lead tunnel motor died shortly after Belden so the helper crew put a third helper online.

[@TimD1952]

Thank you for this trip, it brought back fond memories from my 29 year conductor days in the Rockies of western Canada.

[@DavidStanden-l5n]

I've watched this so many times, and absolutely love it. -- as it brings back so many great memories of when I used to walk along the tracks in many locations. Thank You so much for capturing this Magic that is the Tennessee Pass 👍🌹

[@milehighkit4725]

I miss that route. We have a place outside of Leadville, and I always loved watching the action. This was a very incredible video that you recorded back in the days before smart phones. Thank you for uploading this and making my day.

[@jarrietfair6373]

I miss the Rio grande and Southern pacific trains today. Especially in California

[@rileydog362]

Great video . I was an engineer for SP / UP for 39 years and I agree with everything the engineer said on this run. Thank you for sharing.

[@daveanderson843]

That was a really good ride and the engineer was very enthusiastic about his job which made the ride even better! Been to the pass a couple times in the past several years and boy it has changed since then!

[@Hogheadgolfer]

This an excellent cab ride video. Thank you so much for sharing this. I worked the helper power out of Minturn in 1994-1995 as an LKO. I don’t recognize the the engineer on this train (probably because he’s from Denver) but he constantly “pops the air” going up the hill, which is very annoying, and serves no purpose. I miss working this mountain very much, it taught me so much about mountain railroading. Skills I use to this day, as Engineer out of SLC.

[@rc391995]

Why did he do that ?

[@SomeDuder1984]

Do you have any interesting stories or footage from your time working there?

[@kennethphillips318]

What is an LKO?

[@Cboss1021]

I’ve been an engineer for a certain class 1 railroad east of the Mississippi for 25 years and I totally agree with everything this engineer had to say. Seems like the railroad is the railroad no matter when or where.

[@michaelmaggini9160]

Thanks for the ride along. I live very close to the line in Eagle Vail. Thank you for taking me past some of my fish'n holes. I gotta get back in there!!!

[@davidchapman1519]

What an awsome video!!! Still can't belive the grande is gone. Wish I came out more to see it.

[@jerryday2658]

Great video. I got a cab ride in a GP40 (6 unit helper) from Pando to Minturn in 1975. But my ride was at night in the dark.

[@milepost4846]

Wow, great video! Would have loved to seen this when it was still active. Glad you had the opportunity. What the engineer mentioned about crews that hate their jobs and not understanding why anyone would take a picture of a train, sad but true, there are many employees like that. But if you want to work in something boring, they should go into a office, I don't think many want to photo offices.

[@rc391995]

I can't believe that guy got off and filmed that train passing. I'm confused . was that a conductor or just a rider ? He sure seemed like he was out of place and clueless . maybe he was a new hire

[@rc391995]

It seems it wears your patience thin after 40 years of it yea ingot sick of it . Trainmasters either breathing down your neck or hiding in the bushes looking for a reason to fire you. I wouldn't have a damn job where I had to lay down and hide in a damn brier patch.

[@jorgearmandocarranzaramire6427]

Musica para mis oídos. Saludos desde San Luis Potosí, México. Tierra Ferrocarrilera...

[@Emdsd45T]

Wouldn’t be surprised if me or some of my friends were on that train that was a awesome ride from SLC- Pueblo

[@riogrande5761]

I understand why Tennessee Pass was closed, but great scenery - shame it's no longer used.

[@SisGirl85]

It's really sad to know that the Tennesse Pass line has now passed into history. It would be awesome to see it reopen as an excursion route!

[@damaskes.2849]

Need to reopen the line from Minturn all the way into Malta (near Leadville) for Excrursion and why not go all out and use steam locomotives for the old time feel. Sure there will be needed adjustements for steam but i feel its worth it. Was Born in Leadville and lived there till 94, really hate seeing the line sitting unused and i really hope it does not become a bike trail like the rail that went though Leadville.

[@SisGirl85]

@@damaskes.2849 I would actually love to see the line run from Salida, through Buenie, and Leadville up over the top and down into Minturn. To me it's some of the most beautiful country we have in Colorado, unless it's the Roaring Fork Valley, especially the Fryingpan where I was born and spent my childhood. I too would love to see it made a steam line, as you know it's what it originally was. They have to replace the track anyway soòoo.

[@JamesU56]

There have been talks about reopening the pass due to a lot of increased traffic on the mofat route

[@SisGirl85]

@@JamesU56 I hope they do! Ever since I was a girl I have had a fascination with the trains that have ran over Tennessee Pass.

[@DK-nv9zu]

The Vail newspaper put out an article a while back that billionaire Stefan Soloviev leased the Tennessee Pass line in order to start moving freight again. Supposedly it's still in the works.

[@JohnsKeith]

This was a very cool video. My first on the Tennesse Pass in a cab ride video. It was really cool. Please add more and thank you very much!

[@williamhiles7404]

All the good things from our past have been taken from us one way or another. Nice video, I wish I was on the train, just a rollin' on down the line. Or just a chooglin' on down to New Orleans, but if you see me a comin',, don't you waste my time, 'cause there's more miles between us than the Santa Fe Line. LedHed Steven 🎸 🎹 🎸

[@robertmoir5695]

It s nice to see this Memories of the D and R G W preserved Rio Grande was a great railroad in it s day

[@shospulecolupis9718]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. I check from time to time for new Tennessee Pass videos. Every so often, I find one. I'm sure there are others that have videos like this and have just not shared them, or do not know how, until someone else finds out they have these gems and hits them up about uploading them.

[@guyhartsel8797]

Great cab ride Reminds me when I use to ride and sometimes operate trains here in Ohio Nice power lash up to

[@leonblittle226]

If only you could be a billionaire and just buy this line outright

[@Senor0Droolcup]

You had me at “Rio Grande cab ride”. 😂❤

[@vijayanchomatil8413]

Kind of a little philosophical talk from the Engineer at the end there about work and love of work.

[@ChadsRailfanExperience]

This was just excellent to watch. Glad it was documented

[@carlgomm9699]

New subscriber here, im a retired over the road truck driver, I would love to get a cab ride in a freight train so I can see things from an engineers point of view

[@howardschmerl9927]

He is descending down on dynamics I think we use them also in Australia

[@황선규-v9r]

아 저도 생각이 있는데요 미국 장대 혼합화물열차 운전실 시점 영상보면 화물열차 기관사님께 런닝맨 여자피디님 얘기 자주 꺼내면서 고백하고싶다고 한국철도 소속 디젤전기기관차 2대에 탑승하셔서 미국 샌디에고 조차장역에서 미국 LA를 경유해서 캐나다 퀘벡주 조차장역으로 향하는 이른시간으로 운행하는 초장대 혼합화물열차 근무에 투입시키려는 런닝맨 피디님 그리고 한국철도 소속 기관사님.

[@SomeDuder1984]

@DRGW_5340 Do you have anymore footage to share? Thanks

[@OfficialDenverRioGrandeWestern]

OfficialDenverandRioGrandeWestern RR comment: As yes the good ol days 😢

[@Sacto1654]

If this line was still open, the train in this video would have a power consist of three ET44AC's in the front and three ET44AC's as mid-train DPU's.

[@irishrebel1798]

that engineer is on machines of iron tennessee pass vol3 dvd, he does an interview I'm almost certain its him.

[@O-PAC]

I think you’re right…his voice sounds familiar. I think he was the guy showing the computer train orders in the Minturn office. Also remember seeing Roy Isabell in one of the DVDs.

[@jamesnichols2188]

Great video thanks for sharing be safe God bless

[@aaamodeltrainsandplanes3774]

Awesome video just subscribed hope to see more !

[@larry4107]

Great video really enjoyed this s

[@tinadelwiche416]

Very beautiful seneic choo choo ride

[@frostbyte3978]

KZbin transcripted the emd's as music. Lol.

[@rc391995]

He done a good job .

[@David-nl1zt]

So the lead unit shut down I'm assuming? I was a little confused at what was happening..

[@rc391995]

Damn what a grade !

[@cagorrie]

Fantastic, thanks for sharing this

[@tunnelmotor9389]

Great video and thanks for sharing it. How did you get down the hill - hitch a ride on the helpers ?

[@flfun1684]

SD40T-2!!! Tunnel Motors..SP was other EMD customer who baught the locomotives

[@Emdsd45T]

That route was epic too bad it’s gone

[@bjjt-nu9dx]

Before assimilation by the Borg.

[@선규황-k5n]

제한속도를 무시하고 곡선을 직선으로 잘못 인식하면서 서울발 여수엑스포행 무궁화호 1517호 탈선사고를 일으킨 정기관사 정씨의 최후.

[@dankahlenberg1262]

Awesome video!! Was this heading north or south; I'm assuming north from BV up Tennesse Pass?

[@dankahlenberg1262]

Actually, from reading through the comments, this train was heading south.

[@DK-nv9zu]

Definitely headed south cause they enter the north tunnel portal.

[@sethlake1429]

The video started going through Red Cliff.

[@jcee2259]

I'd prefer a 'grainer' hobo catch-out perspective.

[@kennyward4674]

😊 I always wondered if it ws true, and listening to the conversation confirms it. Train engineers ARE just as full of shit as truck drivers.

[@moodymerlin]

Awesome, thanks!

[@Ken-vz9ko]

Way cool

[@HGSRR]

Hmmmm 27 minutes looks a lil... familiar

[@tcp3059]

?

[@Emdsd45T]

Nice that lead unit took a dump you could actually have a good convo with the engineer and conductor

[@jorgearmandocarranzaramire6427]

A toda máquina...

[@ceccoonrailroad]

SD 40 fierros interminable s