Colorado’s Royal Gorge Route Railroad has returned its F7A and F7B locomotives to service. With an impressive plume of smoke, F7A No. 403, built for the Chicago & North Western in 1949, and former Alaska Railroad F7B No. 1503 lead a train out of Cañon City, Colo., on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. It was the first revenue run for the two locomotives, stored since 2021 but back after a restoration and “a comprehensive tune-up,” according to the railroad. The F7s will be handling trains through March 28, the railroad says in a post on its website regarding its “Ride with the Engineer” cab-ride program.
Are they still selling cab rides? I was able to score one in the 1990’s..
You would need either a cab ride or a dome car to appreciate the “hanging bridge”. We had neither. What we did have was one of the most delicious meals we ever ate. Along with the matchless scenery of the canyon.
It was a very long drive from Denver’s NE exurbs but well worth it. Whatever we paid for the meal-inclusive tickets (I don’t remember the cost) was a bargain.
Speaking of dome cars, we did ride one (ex-NP) on the tourist train out of Nashville, an otherwise unremarkable journey.
Did someone swap out the 567 in #403 for a 244? Some pretty spectacular smoke coming out of it.