We enter into the Tunnel District After making the turn at Coal Creek Canyon, we pass into Tunnel #1 and begin our trip through the Tunnel District. Once we exit Tunnel #1 we reach Plainview Siding. Being a fellow Tunnel Junkie, I look back out of our car and catch a shot of the other portal of Tunnel#1. [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
Plainview, CO Not long afterward, we pass through Plainview, CO... [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
This last part with the videos and pic's from the train is the best part Darren!!:teeth: Keep 'em coming!
New Flash We interrupt this topic as we break over LIVE to the Denver Post Colorado Ski Train revival gathers steam The operator of a southern Colorado railway has asked about taking over the route. By Jeffrey Leib The Denver Post A company with experience running excursion passenger trains in southern Colorado is interested in reviving Ski Train service between Denver and Winter Park, beginning with the upcoming season. The Ski Train, which operated between Denver and Winter Park, ended a 69-year run in April. (Denver Post file photo) It is "very premature" to talk about the resumption of the Ski Train, said Edwin Ellis, president of Iowa Pacific Holdings LLC, which counts the Alamosa-based San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad and Rio Grande Scenic Railroad among its properties. In April, Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz's company said it was selling the Ski Train's rolling stock to a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway Co., ending a 69-year run for the excursion train. Anschutz's firm attributed the decision to "overall cost increases, particularly for liability coverage," "operating issues with freight trains" and uncertainty surrounding the redevelopment of Denver's Union Station as the hub for RTD's FasTracks project. In a June letter obtained by The Denver Post, Ellis wrote to Union Pacific Railroad chairman and chief executive James Young, saying Iowa Pacific would like to succeed Anschutz's company in operating the Ski Train. Iowa Pacific "has a fleet of modern, higher-capacity cars that we use in southern Colorado" for passenger-rail excursions, Ellis said in his letter, yet "these cars are largely idle in the winter." Ellis added: "We carry $100 million in liability insurance for passenger operations." In a presentation to government leaders, Ellis' company said the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad "can provide all services necessary for the Winter Park train," including "railcars and locomotives, onboard services, reservations and ticketing, sales and marketing, and administration." Any new operator of the Denver-to-Winter Park route will have to get permission from Union Pacific, which owns the track and operates freight trains in the corridor. UP has an office that coordinates with Amtrak and other passenger-rail ventures that want to use its track, yet that office "has not been contacted regarding the re-establishment of the train," Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said Tuesday. Doing so "is the key to beginning the process of seeing if it is even feasible to re-establish the Ski Train," Davis said. Winter Park Resort president and chief operating officer Gary DeFrange said his ski area has been interested in finding another operator for the excursion train since it learned of Anschutz's decision. "We are exploring any options we can think of to bring back the Ski Train," DeFrange said. This ski season will be the 70th anniversary of the resort, and if another operator can be found for the train in the coming season, it would the 70th year for the Ski Train as well, DeFrange said. Iowa Pacific's San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad hauls freight in the San Luis Valley area, and the scenic railroad runs summer passenger excursions from Alamosa serving La Veta, Antonito and Monte Vista. In Iowa Pacific's letter to UP promoting a Ski Train revival, Ellis said, "Keeping cars off congested, snowbound highways has strong public appeal." Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Gov. Bill Ritter, said the governor's office hopes to host a meeting next week of the parties involved in a possible Ski Train revival. "The governor is trying to help save this cultural icon and important part of Colorado history," Dreyer said. One challenge for a new Ski Train operator, if it wins approval from UP for the service, will be to establish a temporary terminal in Denver while reconstruction of Union Station proceeds. The Denver Union Station Project Authority is planning a four-year, $500 million redevelopment of the station area. The rehabilitation plan calls for a new commuter-rail and passenger-rail terminal that will handle four FasTracks trains, Amtrak and other passenger rail, including excursion trains such as the Ski Train. Amtrak has struck a deal with the Regional Transportation District and the station authority that calls for a temporary Amtrak station near 19th and 20th streets while construction is underway at Union Station. It is not clear whether the temporary Amtrak station would have enough capacity to serve Ski Train customers.
Plainview, CO Between Tunnel#1 and Tunnel#2 is Plainview and Lisa took several photographs through this section and I finally picked four to share with you tonight. The first is a shot due east looking over the Colorado Plains; hence the name of this location. The second shot she catches the train we just passed earlier on Clay Siding. The next shot she catches Tunnel #2 and Tunnel#3 that we are approaching. The final selection tonight she catches our train exiting Plain Siding just before we reach Tunnel #2. Enjoy! [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
Tunnel#2 While Lisa was taking all her shots out the right side, I was taking video from the left. As we exit Plain Siding, we then enter into Tunnel#2. While inside the tunnel, you can see in the window reflection activity inside the car... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElH8lOplNBs"]YouTube - Ski Train Part#04[/ame]
Tunnel #3 With Lisa sitting in the Window seat, she will catch Tunnel #3 with the Ski Train passing through it. [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Tunnel #6 The next portal Lisa will catch with the train passing through is that of Tunnel #6... [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Sweet! I have always wanted to ride this train. Or any other train through the Rockies for that matter.
Tunnel #10 The next portal Lisa will get a shot of is #10 [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
39°54'39.00"N 105°18'41.00"W Lisa's next clean shot of the Ski Train will be between Tunnel#16 & #17 [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Tunnel #15 After exiting Tunnel #16 Lisa also catches this shout of Tunnel #16... [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Crescent Siding The next section Lisa will get a shot of the train going around a bend will be at Crescent Siding near MP 31.2 [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Tunnel #19 The next Tunnel shot Lisa will catch will be #19 [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Video #5 While Lisa got her shot of Gross Reservoir and Tunnel #19 I was trying to shot video over her shoulder of Gross Reservoir as well. I also took a quick video of our Car Attendant making up some "To Go" cups of fruit since those of us in our car had not yet eaten all during breakfast. Soon Tunnel #21 will cut off my shots of this area of the Tunnel District. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm1Vnpq8jto"]YouTube - Ski Train Part#05[/ame]
Tunnel #22 This next shot does not catch much of the train or the tunnel portal but might give modelers of the route an different perspective. [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
