Per reports on the Trains Magazine newswire and on another forum from the fellow who owns the shop in the Grand Junction, CO depot, the California Zephyr will begin operating through via the Wyoming detour today. There is no reliable estimate for when the traditional D&RGW route will reopen.
Passengers booked to/from Provo, Helper, Green River, Grand Junction, and Glenwood Springs will be bustituted.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Others evidently disagree, but I for one think that a reroute on the Overland Route should be a 'treat'. This especially if the Rio Grande is 'old hat'.
It would take a number of trips for the D&RGW to be old hat.
It would be nice...... from the railfan point of view...... to be able to make a round trip out on the D&RGW and back on the UP!
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
I also think a Wyoming detour would be intresting. Very scenic and historical old route. Not too far from Wilcox, Wyoming where Butch and Sundance robbed the Overland Flyer, getting away with $30,000. About $815,000 today.
Richard
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
I would agree, Mr. Presely, that a 'railfan itinerary' would be Rio Gramde Westward and Overland Route Eastward.
The scenery through the Wasatch Mountains on the Overland is viewed by daylight even assuming #6 made an on time departure from SLC. The ascent over Sherman Hill is also same.
However, a scheduled Rio Grande routed on time Zephyr #5 misses the Wasatches altogether WW; #6 EW is either late or it is Summer Solstice.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Life on the City of Los Angeles
Echo Canyon is glorious, and Sherman Hill is something in itself.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Thinking a bit more about it - I would like another ride on the Wyoming detour. My earlier excursion was eastbound in a downstairs roomette and I wouldn't mind having accommodations upstairs for this ride.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
Believe me, I'm trying to work this detour in to my plans! I'm actually off to Indianapolis this time next week courtesy of United and it's too late to change the tickets (still no news on the Hoosier State). I then have a trip to Madison, WI in mid-November but I think in eight weeks' time it'll all be over... maybe.
Apparently UP are running 20-25 trains a day up the Moffat route to deliver stone to fill in the washouts. I wonder if it's ever been that busy before?
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
quote:Originally posted by Geoff Mayo: Believe me, I'm trying to work this detour in to my plans! I'm actually off to Indianapolis this time next week courtesy of United and it's too late to change the tickets (still no news on the Hoosier State). I then have a trip to Madison, WI in mid-November but I think in eight weeks' time it'll all be over... maybe.
Apparently UP are running 20-25 trains a day up the Moffat route to deliver stone to fill in the washouts. I wonder if it's ever been that busy before?
I'm glad they're doing it - it means they think it's worth saving!
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
That's alot of action. Hopefully some phtos depicting this work will begin showing up on the net soon.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)