Steam & Excursion > UP 8444 at Denver Union Station

Oct 1978
Well almost at the station.
The day after a successful and excellent Denver-Laramie roundtrip the engine is near the station to pick up a business car and caboose.
That consist will then head back home to Cheyenne.
The Rio Grande switcher is at the station probably to switch (or has switched) the San Francisco Zephyr.

Gary

 

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gcm Wrote:
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> Oct 1978

> The Rio Grande switcher is at the station probably
> to switch (or has switched) the San Francisco
> Zephyr.

Did the Rio Grande provide switching for Amtrak?  In 1978 the SFZ was still running over the UP west of Denver, and the Rio Grande was running it's own train.  I was in Denver in August 1976, when the SFZ still had an expanded consist east of there, but don't remember if the switching was done with the Amtrak road units or freight railroad power.

Dave

Interesting scenic view.
Bob

DavidP Wrote:

> Did the Rio Grande provide switching for Amtrak?

> Dave

I have seen both Rio Grande and BN switchers working the SFZ.
Gary

gcm Wrote:
I have seen both Rio Grande and BN switchers working the SFZ.

Same here.  Caught a BN SW7 working an ex-SP dome car back in 1975:
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,5811939

mike woodruff
anacortes wa
 

This is the Denver Union Station area I remember by taking the 8444 trips from there. I'm impressed with the panorama of the photo as it included so much for posterity. Thank you for posting it.

Kennard Britton
 

rio grande never switched the sfz just running light to north yard

Nice shot!