Nostalgia & History > F unit Friday. Rio Grande F's on a 1983 slag run.

In April of 1983, the Rio Grande's last 3 F units lost their job of powering the Rio Grande Zephyr as Amtrak took over rail operations on the D&RGW.  The displaced F's found new work in hauling ballast trains and work extras for the remainder of 1983.  On September 16, 1983, they were working Minturn/Leadville locals to service the ballast loader at Eilers as well as attend to local business.

1) Tennessee Pass offered many photo possibilities and a favorite was at the west switch of Pando where we see the F's and a GP40-2 teamup up to move ballast empties upgrade.

2) Another favorite location was just below the reverse curves at Mitchell.   In this view train 584 drums upgrade at Kindig's Curve, named for renown Denver photographer Richard Kindig, who recorded some spectacular steam views here.

3) The empties have been swapped for loads and two loads of ore from the truck dump at Malta have been added to the head end of the Minturn bound train as it slogs upgrade just west of Keeldar.  The speed was slow but the sound glorious as all units strained for all they were worth to move the leaden train upgrade. In a few miles they'd crest the Continental Divide and begin braking the consist down the 3% grade to Minturn.  For the purists, the photo tag indicates this is train 583 but in fact it was a 585.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/21 08:17 by Conch.

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Outstanding images of the Rio Grande's F-units working Tennessee Pass line-!  Thanks for scanning your slides and sharing these images.

Wouldn't you like to have a dollar for every shot taken at Mitchell !

Thanks for posting .

Fantastic! Like you mentioned, bet that sound was Awesome:}

Wonderful choice of scenes!
Bob

Fantastic set, bet that sound from #3 is burned into your brain! :>)

JG