4-8-4 1804 with Chicago–Oakland Exposition Flyer at Ralston, Colo., 1940.
R. H. Kindig
F7 and PB with Denver–Craig Yampa Valley departing Denver, early 1965.
George H. Drury
Denver–Salt Lake City Rio Grande Zephyr at Plainview, Colo., June 1978.
John R. Taibi
PA and PB with Denver–Salt Lake City Royal Gorge approaching Hanging Bridge in Royal Gorge, April 1959.
Jim Scribbins
Narrow-gauge 2-8-2 No. 453 with Durango–Silverton mixed train north of Elk Park, Colo., August 1948
Donald M. Gunn
Narrow-gauge 2-8-2 No. 475 with Antonito–Santa Fe (N.Mex.) train 425 approaching Embudo, N.Mex., 1940.
R. H. Kindig
Pacific 803 with Denver–Salt Lake City Prospector leaving Denver, June 1942.
Jackson C. Thode
California Zephyr
Chicago–Oakland California Zephyr in South Boulder Canyon just east of Pinecliff, Colo., March 21, 1970 — the train’s last westbound run.
Observation car of Denver–Salt Lake City Scenic Limited at Denver, circa 1928.
George L. Beam
View from Oakland–Chicago California Zephyr meeting westbound CZ in Glenwood Canyon east of Glenwood Springs, Colo., May 1958.
Jim Neubauer
PA, PB, and F3B with Chicago–Oakland California Zephyr east of Pinecliff, Colo., mid-1951.
W. H. Mitchell
Original Budd-built diesel motor cars of Denver–Salt Lake City Prospector west of Leyden, Colo., May 14, 1942.
Otto C. Perry
4-6-2 and 2-8-2 with Chicago–Oakland Exposition Flyer departing Denver, June 1939.
R. H. Kindig
4-6-0 with Salt Lake City–Denver Prospector east of Coal Creek, Colo., on July 4, 1942 — its last run until reinstated after World War II.
R. H. Kindig
Rear of Alamosa–Durango San Juan at Cumbres, Colo., late 1940s.
Robert F. Collins
FTA, FTB, F3A, and 4-8-4 with the Salt Lake City–Denver Royal Gorge at Mitchell, Colo., circa late 1940s.
Harry N.B. Hospers
Craig–Denver Yampa Valley as seen from cab of Denver–Craig Yampa Valley at Radium, Colo., December 1966.
Steve Patterson
4-6-0 and 4-8-4 with Denver–Salt Lake City Scenic Limited in the Royal Gorge, June 1937.
M. C. Poor
Chicago–Oakland California Zephyr in Rocky Mountains, early 1950s.
Gordon Odegard
In December 2019, Classic Trains is celebrating the history, heritage, and splendor of the Denver & Rio Grande Western. Enjoy this photo gallery, originally published online in July 2015, as the perfect salute to the Rio Grande.
Return each week for another salute to the railroad of the month!
Thanks Bryan Goggans, great idea. My children won’t have a clue about it “one day” (as they say) and it’s just sitting in the basement. I’ll enquire if CRM is interested, perhaps Cal State in Sacramento too.
I managed to ride the RGZ Denver to Salt Lake a few months before the end. A lengthy post-lunch chat about the great train with the dining car steward was poignant, and he said he wanted me to have a souvenir. He went to a storage locker and brought a CZ-embroidered tablecloth in plastic wrap, with his card tucked under the film. It is still just as he gave it to me some 37 years ago, never unfolded, a precious relic.
David Kwechansky — Wow, what a wonderful souvenir from a great train, and a wonderful ride to remember! That was so very kind and thoughtful of the dining car steward to give that to someone who would appreciate it. You may have already made arrangements, but when you no longer need the souvenir, the Colorado Railroad Museum or other museum featuring the D&RGW would probably love to have that as a donation. You can likely even specify that the package not be opened if that is your preference.
Fondly remember riding the Cal Zepher to Oakland CA. My family and a friend occupied the last car on the train with three bedrooms. With a little extra money the porter would lock the door preventing other passengers on our westaward journey. We in essance enjoyed the trip in privacy. Seeing the front range of the Rockies as the train worked its way westward will never be forgotten and that was in 1967. My father got angry when I was hungary going thru Glenwood Canyon and he escorted me to the diner for a “ground” level view. Sadly did not even think to borrow on a exposition loan so to speak of memorabilia at the ripe age of 12.. This trip ended on a return trip on the santa Fe Super Chief with an interupption of Coast Daylight ride down the coast on the SP.