Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
This is perhaps the final look at one of the most incredible railroad lines in the United States. On August 23, 1997 Union Pacific ran the last through train over this former Rio Grande main line, possibly the end of "the big show" of railroading on this historic D&RGW Colorado route.
Fortunately, our cameras were there when the railroad was still running full tilt, and we see everything from the manifest to coal and taconite trains. Lots of mainline diesel action!
Minturn was still a busy place with helpers being cut in and out. Our video shows all the line threatened with closure, from Dotsero east to Canon city.
See the depths of Eagle River Canyon, the 3% climb to Tennessee Pass (and a train with 10 locomotives), Colorado's highest peaks, the Arkansas River Canyon, and the Royal Gorge. This spectacular railroad may now be silent, but the trains still roar on your TV!
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and Dotsero to Minturn
8:54 Minturn
18:18 Minturn to Pando
27:37 Pando to Tennessee Pass
42:03 Tennessee Pass to Princeton
1:03:00 Princeton to Salida
1:11:16 Salida to Parkdale
1:19:31 Parkdale through Royal Gorge to Canon City
This is perhaps the final look at one of the most incredible railroad lines in the United States. On August 23, 1997 Union Pacific ran the last through train over this former Rio Grande main line, possibly the end of "the big show" of railroading on this historic D&RGW Colorado route.
Fortunately, our cameras were there when the railroad was still running full tilt, and we see everything from the manifest to coal and taconite trains. Lots of mainline diesel action!
Minturn was still a busy place with helpers being cut in and out. Our video shows all the line threatened with closure, from Dotsero east to Canon city.
See the depths of Eagle River Canyon, the 3% climb to Tennessee Pass (and a train with 10 locomotives), Colorado's highest peaks, the Arkansas River Canyon, and the Royal Gorge. This spectacular railroad may now be silent, but the trains still roar on your TV!
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and Dotsero to Minturn
8:54 Minturn
18:18 Minturn to Pando
27:37 Pando to Tennessee Pass
42:03 Tennessee Pass to Princeton
1:03:00 Princeton to Salida
1:11:16 Salida to Parkdale
1:19:31 Parkdale through Royal Gorge to Canon City
