Rocky Mountaineer in the Colorado Rockies

[MikefromCrete]

To keep to a strictly daytime service with the currently posted schedule, RMR will need to stand down between November 7 and January 7, when sunsets are earlier than 5 PM.

The last run for this year is Oct. 23. I don't think Rocky Mountaineer runs all year long in Canada, either. It's strictly a spring-summer-fall operation.

 

[Seaboard92]

It is a seasonal train. They actually offered me a job on board the Colorado train. But I took the airline offer instead. And I don't regret it to be honest.

 

[Palmland]

Attended a Rocky Mountaineer presentation at a travel expo in town. Main points of interest for me-
* They are looking at possible routes to expand their Colorado/Utah service. The UP has been very cooperative.
* They will be offering a fly over (Utah parks) option for those going from Moab to Las Vegas. Beats a long bus ride I guess.
* They still hope to get into Denver Union Station this year but RTD is being very difficult (expensive). Local government and businesses are supportive of their efforts.

 

[Cal]

The UP has been very cooperative.

Money talks.

They still hope to get into Denver Union Station this year but RTD is being very difficult (expensive). Local government and businesses are supportive of their efforts.

Where do they currently stop?

 

[WWW]

RM Link:

Login (rockymountaineer.com)


Register log-in browse around
Colorado-Utah (Denver-Moab) look for RED ROCKS

Train leaves Denver (station location is issue presently)
Overnight at Glenwood Springs and terminus at Moab

Various options available

Returns via same route - overnight at Glenwood Springs

Inclusive all hotel arrangements and breakfast lunch on train
Evening dinners on your own dime.

Interesting RM is now going to offer a flyover option.
Wished the train would continue on to Salt Lake City for
an alternative beginning ending option. There is bus
service with optional National Park stops and continuing
to Las Vegas.

Note this train route does not consist of the double-deck
dome cars seen on the Canadian routes but the coaches
have the big overhead open window views.

Check out the RM website and DREAM-ON !

 

[Brian Battuello]

I'm all in favor of any public or private train service, but I'm still miffed at Rocky Mountaineer for cancelling reservations about 18 months ago and refusing to refund deposits and full payments. They gave folks a time limited voucher. Although we were already in the Covid environment, presumably the purchasers were ready, willing and able to take the ride they had paid for, and it was either RM's decision to cancel the trips or they were ordered to by the government. In either case, a prompt and full return of moneys paid should have been made. Those folks lost everything, many in the mid-thousand range. I would not trust RM with a dime of deposit, much less a full payment in advance. The airlines returned all paid moneys for cancelled flights, although perhaps slowly.

Rereading some earlier posts, apparently Canadian law allowed them to issue vouchers, and the same problem occurred with Canadian airlines. I'd still be very hesitant to give them any money until I see a few months of reliable operation, and even then only a few weeks in advance.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Now if you're going to dream, try this:



I just wish it didn't keep reminding me of Snowpiercer.

 

[jis]

Now if you're going to dream, try this:



I just wish it didn't keep reminding me of Snowpiercer.

Beautiful.

Many of the US railfan experts will have conniptions about an LD train using articulated distributed power trainset though.

 

[peteypablo]

The most disappointing thing about this train is that the trip ends on the Moab side far short of the most scenic areas. Passengers detrain near where the state highway that runs to Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park intersects with US Highway 191. After that comes the Big Cut and then the journey along the red rock cliff face past the entrance to Arches, followed by a long tunnel that emerges to a view of Corona Arch, and then follows the Colorado River downstream to the potash plant. I have long believed that a tourist train in Moab from the Dead Horse Point turnoff would be a winner, and RMR skips this part.

 

[jis]

The most disappointing thing about this train is that the trip ends on the Moab side far short of the most scenic areas. Passengers detrain near where the state highway that runs to Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park intersects with US Highway 191. After that comes the Big Cut and then the journey along the red rock cliff face past the entrance to Arches, followed by a long tunnel that emerges to a view of Corona Arch, and then follows the Colorado River downstream to the potash plant. I have long believed that a tourist train in Moab from the Dead Horse Point turnoff would be a winner, and RMR skips this part.

Yeah. It is unfortunate. I think it has to do with adequate road access at the disembarkation point that the RMR folks could get access to. We had also discussed this when it was initially announced and everyone was wondering where the heck is it going.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Yeah. It is unfortunate. I think it has to do with adequate road access at the disembarkation point that the RMR folks could get access to. We had also discussed this when it was initially announced and everyone was wondering where the heck is it going.

It's too bad there isn't a station in Moab, but that location is pretty good; flat, straight track and good road access. Moab is slightly congested too, being a popular destination and it looks like there are loading hoppers or something close to the tunnel mouth.

Interestingly, on google maps, there's something called "old railroad depot" off 191 maybe five miles south of I-70.

 

[tgstubbs1]

One of the remarks about the 'old train depot' claims it was never a RR depot.

Another remark says it was a busy terminal.

It's pretty far from Moab so I don't think they would use it for the RMR but it would make a good rest stop for motorists.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

One of the remarks about the 'old train depot' claims it was never a RR depot.

Another remark says it was a busy terminal.

It's pretty far from Moab so I don't think they would use it for the RMR but it would make a good rest stop for motorists.

It seemed, well, seems, an odd spot for a depot or station since the tracks weren't on a transcon - perhaps the terminus of a branch line.

I suppose our old friend Mr. Google has the answer if I would just ask him...

 

[WWW]

One of the remarks about the 'old train depot' claims it was never a RR depot.

Another remark says it was a busy terminal.

It's pretty far from Moab so I don't think they would use it for the RMR but it would make a good rest stop for motorists.

Did some ask for the Google genie ?

Old Train Depot ? - no structure or platform seen ?

Google Map reference (in center of image) Zoom for more or less detail - Moab pan down and slightly right of center:

Google Maps

Interesting to note there is no where to wye a train - if RM is using 1 locomotive there are sidings to move that locomotive
to the now front end of the train.
Going into that potash industrial operation (through a tunnel) serves no useful purpose - nothing to see here folks !

 

[tgstubbs1]

Old Train Depot ? - no structure or platform seen ?

There are some photos on Google but I don't know how to snag one to post.

The interior photos show it has been some time since a renovation or upgrade.

It doesn't look like it could accommodate very many passengers.

 

[WWW]

There are some photos on Google but I don't know how to snag one to post.

The interior photos show it has been some time since a renovation or upgrade.

It doesn't look like it could accommodate very many passengers.

Jokingly you must mean an outhouse next to a MOW service block unit ! LOL !

On a serious note - not finding much except for - - -
Research:

Train To Moab Utah Rail Service - AllTrips (allmoab.com)

LINK to interesting photos in and near Moab:

old train station moab utah - Bing images

UP train depot Thompson Springs:

POKING THROUGH THE RUINS #2 “The Thompson Springs Railroad Depot” – Canyon Country Zephyr

More:

old train station moab utah - Bing

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

The whole thing with the, Cane Creek Subdivision, iirc, is that I thought it was all, or at least a lot of it, relatively new (1962 according to always accurate Wikipedia). So why would there have been on old depot on a new branch line? Thompson Springs is north of I-70.

 

[neroden]

Oh, it is disappointing that they stop that far short of Moab. I have a suspicion as to why.

The uranium mill tailings cleanup remediation site. If that project ever finishes, they could move the passenger train station to the freight loading location there (6.6 miles closer to Moab and with some of the best scenery). At the moment, however, they may want to stay well away from that activity. The uranium mill tailings cleanup remediation site won't close until 2031, though, so it couldn't be reused as a passenger station until then.


Going all the way to the potash plant would be even better, of course, but that would let off at a location with poor roads. Perhaps since it is a scenic trip, heading out to the potash plant for scenery, then reversing to the uranium mill tailings location to drop people off, would make the most sense.

 

[peteypablo]

The trip along the river is a beautiful scenic ride. There is a lot to see there. And there is a decent paved road to the potash operation. Maybe the sticking point is getting permission from the potash operator to park a bus there. And the uranium cleanup is well past the halfway point.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

While the canyon with the potash plant is scenic (enough), to me, it makes more sense to have a station with good road access - people will want to go to Arches, Canyonlands and Moab itself. Their proposed location is perfect for Canyonlands and convenient for Arches, and, if busing around, fine for Moab itself and connections.

 

[tgstubbs1]

I don't think it would work as a station for the Mountaineer. A scenic short excursion train might work. Maybe they could open it to tourists not on the Mountaineer.

Here is the Google map location of the 'old train depot'



The interior 360 view shows the structure has good bones, but very old bones.

 

[Seaboard92]

I don't think it would work as a station for the Mountaineer. A scenic short excursion train might work. Maybe they could open it to tourists not on the Mountaineer.

Here is the Google map location of the 'old train depot'

View attachment 26702

The interior 360 view shows the structure has good bones, but very old bones.

Maybe there is some long lost and forgotten narrow gauge railway in that area. I wouldn't put it past that area.

 

[Cal]

Maybe there is some long lost and forgotten narrow gauge railway in that area. I wouldn't put it past that area.

A reminder that this lovely website still exists.

 

[Willbridge]

Attended a Rocky Mountaineer presentation at a travel expo in town. Main points of interest for me-
* They are looking at possible routes to expand their Colorado/Utah service. The UP has been very cooperative. ....
* They still hope to get into Denver Union Station this year but RTD is being very difficult (expensive). Local government and businesses are supportive of their efforts.

This attached diagram shows the funding for the Denver Union Station project. Some of the participants didn't want Amtrak in the station, let alone more passenger trains or intercity buses.

If one takes a look at how the intercity Tracks 4 and 5 were constructed, "when they are no longer needed for Amtrak" the fill and ballast may be removed, and the tracks used for commuter trains. The latter operation works but is tight on space due to the long stretches of single track that almost automatically determine dwell time in the terminal station. And a very short turnaround in DUS for commuter trains because they're FRA trains rather than FTA light rail consists.

I'm speculating, but in 1970 I read a Harvard professor's book about international business, and he observed that one weakness of American management was the fear of appearing within their organization to be too cooperative in negotiations (x-ref. CSX and NS). Check the funding org chart attached and it'll give an idea of how many people may be leaning over the RTD shoulders.

 

[WWW]

This attached diagram shows the funding for the Denver Union Station project. Some of the participants didn't want Amtrak in the station, let alone more passenger trains or intercity buses.

If one takes a look at how the intercity Tracks 4 and 5 were constructed, "when they are no longer needed for Amtrak" the fill and ballast may be removed, and the tracks used for commuter trains. The latter operation works but is tight on space due to the long stretches of single track that almost automatically determine dwell time in the terminal station. And a very short turnaround in DUS for commuter trains because they're FRA trains rather than FTA light rail consists.

I'm speculating, but in 1970 I read a Harvard professor's book about international business, and he observed that one weakness of American management was the fear of appearing within their organization to be too cooperative in negotiations (x-ref. CSX and NS). Check the funding org chart attached and it'll give an idea of how many people may be leaning over the RTD shoulders.

What is this ?
N-I-M-B-Y to the "Nth" degree
What part of transportation at a central transportation point is not understood ?
Trains buses light rail metro rail all connecting at one location instead of out in the boondocks like the airport DIA
Or should it be all trains will be on the north side of town
all buses on south side
light and commuter rail to the west
and to hell with rest of the metro-plex to east
Go figure - - - - -