You've got me on this (as I wasn't in Denver back then). There often have been Denver <> West Coast mail storage cars on the UP, so perhaps there was some sort of disruption on the Overland Route.What was that UP car doing in the consist in the second photo, trailing the 5771?
Might have been something simpler, like a short term lease?
We did that too, or if my mom came took the train and took the bus (did that to Steamboat too), or had my dad's buddy drive us up.
The CZ stop at Glenwood Springs is the closest navigable point for Aspen. ColoRail has worked on the idea of a Colorado Zephyr, running year-round. However, the upscale people on the West Slope who favor rail service want a high-speed line.
The cost of the A-Line construction was reduced by single-tracking segments (I was involved in getting the double-track extended into the 40th Avenue station, which is a good turnback point for bus bridges. The contractor proposed a more severe deletion of the originally planned double-track segments.)What would really be something, would be if Amtrak could start the Ski Train from the Denver airport using RTD’s line, then pick up at Union Station enroute to Winter Park, or vice versa.
I don’t know if the RTD line is capable of supporting a single Amtrak train. They might need to build an additional platform or some other facility at the airport.
If it is possible, think of the marketing opportunities it would open…
Carrier’s like United, could run code share with Amtrak, perhaps even offering seamless checked baggage service. Of course, that would require services at Winter Park…
Having a local authority like RTD running the Ski Train might even be a better idea, than Amtrak running it. How likely is the entire route to Fraser being electrified? RTD could in the mean time, run some single level train to clear the catenary. if they could squeeze it into their schedule...
What would really be something, would be if Amtrak could start the Ski Train from the Denver airport using RTD’s line, then pick up at Union Station enroute to Winter Park, or vice versa.
I don’t know if the RTD line is capable of supporting a single Amtrak train. They might need to build an additional platform or some other facility at the airport.
If it is possible, think of the marketing opportunities it would open…
Carrier’s like United, could run code share with Amtrak, perhaps even offering seamless checked baggage service. Of course, that would require services at Winter Park…
IIRC the height of catenary is high enough to fit 16' tall Superliners under them. The A-Line trains are 14'8" tall, and something that is just 1'4" taller would appear to leave quite a bit of space to spare between its roof and the catenary as seen in various photos of the A-Line, and clearly the pantographs are capable of reaching the standard height of catenary on the NEC which is high enough to allow operation of Plate H 20' tall freight cars under them.
