ARVADA, Colo. — Two leased Union Pacific locomotives lead a Rocky Mountaineer trainset through Arvada on Tuesday as the train made the fourth of eight test trips for familiarizing crews and onboard employees before the launch of the company’s new “Rockies to Red Rocks” service between Denver and Moab, Utah. The locomotives have been leased to Rocky Mountaineer for the duration of the train’s debut season, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 15. They may be wrapped or otherwise dressed up prior to the start of operations. Rocky Mountaineer is offering two-day trips between Denver and Moab or Moab and Denver, with an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs, Colo., in either case. More information is available at the Rocky Mountaineer website.
Saw this at Tabernash and was able to get a better look at Winter Park a few weeks ago. I was at a family reunion and did not know about a new route, thought maybe train was going for service in Denver or somewhere east. Dome cars were empty, others had tinted windows so could not see much inside except a few had people in safety vests, guess this explains why. There is nice country to travel through in that part of Colorado although not as spectacular as the old Moffat route over the pass at Corona. That would be a hell of a summer trip! Just needs rails, ties, roadbed, and new trestles and tunnels. Sure wouldn’t want to do that in the winter, though.
I am ready to see this fail.
Eight “test trips” seems like overkill. This train just follows usual CZ route DEN>GRI.
Withe the fires in the Fraser River and the US-Canada border closed, it looks like the Rocky Mountaineer management made the right call.