Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures) - Ski Train

Stourbridge Lion Jun 16, 2009

  1. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Tunnel #23

    At the next tunnel, Lisa will catch a bit of the train passing through the portal...

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  2. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Tunnel #24

    Lisa gets a better angle as we enter into the next tunnel...

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  3. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Tunnel #26 / #27

    I will catch this short video clip as we approach #27 and before entering #27. You can see Lisa's camera show up here are there as she is taking shots up the canyon.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0lgd4ALcds"]YouTube - Ski Train Part#06[/ame]​
     
  4. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    South Boulder Creek Canyon - Near Tunnel #27

    As noted in the previous post, while I was shooting video clips, Lisa was taking shots up the canyon. Here are a few of those shots as we approach Tunnel #27...

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  5. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    South Boulder Creek Canyon - Between Tunnel #27 & #29

    After we exit Tunnel #27 Lisa takes a couple more canyon shots before the Ski Train starts into a "S" curve heading into Tunnel #29...

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  6. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Tunnel #29

    With the train turning into the "S" curve, Lisa get's several shots of the train including as it passes into Tunnel #29. Here are the four I've picked out for usage on my RRAdventures website and to share here on this trip report.

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  7. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Cliff Siding (MP 37)

    While Lisa was taking her shots, I captured a few short clips that include the Ski Train after we exited Tunnel #29 and a UP Freight train sitting at Cliff Siding with six (6) engines on the front end.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTYz33kn9bs"]YouTube - Ski Train Part#07[/ame]​
     
  8. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Tunnel #30

    At this point, Lisa is not able to get any good shots from the right side so I hope over to the windows on the left side. Looking up river, we are about to take a right turn which is where Tunnel #30 will be. After passing though the tunnel I will shot a couple of canyon shots before the train takes a left turn and comes into my view...

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  9. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rollins, CO

    I will get a couple more shots of the Ski Train as it completes the "S" curve. As the train turns back to the right we pass onto the Rollins Siding...

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  10. Stourbridge Lion

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    Rollins Siding

    I flip my little point-n-shot from stills back to video mode as we pass through Rollins...

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Kj-FMv6sk"]YouTube - Ski Train Part#08[/ame]​
     
  11. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Tolland, CO

    As we reach Tolland, Lisa is once again taking shot after shot; here is a few you might enjoy of the Continental Divide we are about the go under, the old School House, and the Siding and Wye that are here...

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  12. Stourbridge Lion

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    East Portal

    Lisa will get a few more shots before we enter into Moffat Tunnel

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  13. Stourbridge Lion

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    Latest News

    All are aboard plan to revive Ski Train runs

    Amtrak and Iowa Pacific get the go-ahead for Denver-to-Winter Park rail trips from Dec. 26 to March 28.
    By Jeffrey Leib
    The Denver Post

    The Union Pacific Railroad said Thursday that it has approved a request from Amtrak to operate a revived Ski Train between Denver and Winter Park for the upcoming ski season.

    In April, a company operated by Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz said it would no longer run Ski Train excursions to Winter Park, potentially ending a 69-year tradition. Anschutz's firm sold its Ski Train railcars to a Canadian railroad company.

    Last month, Iowa Pacific Holdings LLC, which operates excursion railroads seasonally in southern Colorado and short-line freight railroads in this state and across the country, said it would like to take over the Denver-Winter Park service.

    "Union Pacific has approved Amtrak's request to run the Ski Trains as special Amtrak trains," UP spokesman Mark Davis said of Iowa Pacific's proposal.

    Iowa Pacific president Ed Ellis said his company had asked UP to allow Amtrak "to run the Ski Train on our behalf for the 2009-2010 season. We're pleased to hear that UP has approved that request."

    The new Ski Train operation is scheduled to run between Dec. 26 and March 28, Ellis said.

    Amtrak and the renewed Ski Train are expected to use Union Station through the end of March.

    Beginning in April, officials planning the $500 million redevelopment of Union Station as a hub for RTD expect to relocate Amtrak service to a temporary rail station at 21st and Delgany streets, just northwest of Coors Field, for 3 1/2 years while construction at Union Station proceeds.

    It is likely that Iowa Pacific's Ski Train, if it operates during the 2010-11 season, would use the temporary Amtrak facility as well.

    Ellis said his company still must finalize its deal with Amtrak for the upcoming season, but he added that the proposed arrangement "would use our cars and locomotives and Amtrak crews."

    Following Anschutz's announcement earlier this year, Iowa Pacific had solicited support from Gov. Bill Ritter and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper for a revival of Ski Train service by the company.

    Ellis' company operates the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad that runs summer passenger excursions serving Alamosa, La Veta, Antonito and Monte Vista.

    Using railcars from that service for a winter Ski Train will make for more efficient use of the equipment, Ellis said this summer.

    The Denver Union Station Project Authority said Thursday that it expects to lease the Light Bulb Supply Co. building at 21st and Delgany and will gut the structure to create the temporary rail station for Amtrak.

    The building is owned by the metropolitan stadium district, DUSPA officials said. It is expected that Light Bulb Supply, a longtime fixture on Denver's business scene, will relocate to a new location in the Denver area.

    "We are meeting with the appropriate officials next month to go over details of the temporary facility," Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said. "We understand that the costs of the temporary relocation are not expenses we will have to bear."

    DUSPA has budgeted about $2 million for the temporary Amtrak station. Officials said they have not yet worked out all details of parking to be available at the temporary station.

    Jeffrey Leib: 303-954-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com
     
  14. Stourbridge Lion

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    Video #9

    I will get a few more video clips in from the left side including our approach to Moffat Tunnel's East Portal

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUHoIY8wdvU"]YouTube - Ski Train Part#09[/ame]​
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2009
  15. Stourbridge Lion

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    Moffat Tunnel

    Into Moffat Tunnel we go, next stop Winter Park, Colorado...

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  16. Stourbridge Lion

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    Video #10

    ... and we arrive at Winter Park.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh1u6ypyK_Y"]YouTube - Ski Train Part#10[/ame]​
     
  17. Stourbridge Lion

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    Video #11

    How about a view of the Ski Train from a Ski Lift!!!

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXCxKSQ8n0o"]YouTube - Ski Train Part#11[/ame]​
     
  18. Stourbridge Lion

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    Ski Lift

    As we continue to head up the Ski Lift, I will catch a few more shots of the Ski Train down below before it pulls away down to the siding to sit for the remainder of the day.

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  19. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks for the ride so far, Conductor!
     
  20. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, thanks for the ride. I too have enjoyed it so far.

    Ben
     

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