http://www.drgw.net/gallery/main.php http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/17_Tabernash_3_78_2.jpg.html 33769 A clear, cold, morning in March of 1978 finds #17 speeding west at Tabernash. Deep snow adds to the postcard scene in these declining years of RGZ operation. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5345_Tabernash.jpg.html 33773 X5345W slips into the siding at Tabernash in September of 1978. At the same time, an eastbound manifest creeps down the main awaiting a green signal indicating that the empty is in the clear. Note that the second car on the 5345 is an oversize load boun http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/EB_Granby_10_73.jpg.html 33776 This EB has some passengers as it departs Granby in September of 1973. At this time, Granby featured a lap siding, consisting of overlapping north and south sidings. One of the few on the Rio Grande, it was eliminated in subsequent years. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5771_HSS.jpg.html 33779 Sometimes things don't work out as planned. The setup looked great for the westbound RGZ, but we didn't count on the locomotives going through transistion right here, with the resulting turbo lag smoke. Seen at Sheriff's Ranch east of Hot Sulphur Springs http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5325_HSS_181.jpg.html 33782 Skirting the fall color along the Colorado River, the 5325 heads up the westbound #183 as it glides downgrade through the Sheriff Ranch on 9-30-1979. Cargill grain hoppers decorate the head end. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5343_Sulphur_Sp_001.jpg.html 33785 5343 and four other SD40T2's roll the #712 across the Colorado River just east of Hot Sulphur Springs on September 29, 1979. Neither the fly fisherman or his black lab appear impressed by the passage of the eastbound on this excellent autumn afternoon. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/3080_Byers_Canyon_9_73.jpg.html 33788 The late afternoon sun highlights X3080E as it winds through Byers Canyon 9-73 http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/3091_Byers_Canyon_9_73.jpg.html 33791 On a considerably gloomier September afternoon in 1973, 3091 heads up another eastbound as it prepares to exit Byers Canyon. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5334_Byers_Can_3_78.jpg.html 33794 The Colorado River is still frozen as SD45 5334 snakes through Byers Canyon with #287 in March of 1978. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5771_Sulphur_Spr.jpg.html 33797 A snowy February morning in 1976 finds #17 leaving Sulphur Springs and entering the confines of Byers Canyon. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5771_Troublesome_1.jpg.html 33800 After leaving Byers Canyon, speed picks up and #17 races west as seen from the US 40 overpass at Troublesome. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/Silver_Sky_Troublesome.jpg.html 33803 Silver Sky - Troublesome http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/01418_545.jpg.html 33806 Loading at Kremmling has concluded and stock extra #544 is ready to depart as rancher Grady Culbreth discuss the days events. The train consisted entirely of Ortner 85' high cube stock cars, making this final true stock extra one of the most modern. 10-9- http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/drgw_3115_flat_co_mar_1977_000_2864x2048.jpg.html 33809 Continuing westward, we find the westbound Rio Grande Zephyr at Flat, CO, on this cold March day in 1977. It has two clean GP40-2s (3115 and 3116) providing a little extra power for usual F-units, presumably to help it deal with the snow. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/17_1_Flat.jpg.html 33812 Quickly accelerating after leaving Byers Canyon, we were hard pressed to keep up with this amply powered Zephyr. Jenny snapped these pacing shots as we raced towards Flat. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/17_3_Flat.jpg.html 33815 #17 speeds west near Parshall in March of 1977. Note the animal tracks on the slope of the fill. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5371_Energy_CO.jpg.html 33818 This is a company shot that Jenny literally rescued from the trash at Park Central. It shows our old friend 5371 loading at Energy, CO, probably in the late '70's. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5397_Park.jpg.html 33821 These pictures featuring the 5397 were also rescued views. Some were used in issues of the Green Light and in Annual Reports. Here we see a pristine set of tunnel motors led by the 5397 at Park. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/Scan20158.jpg.html 33824 A bit farther along the line, the photographer caught them going through Oak Creek Canyon on a fall morning in 1978 http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/Mt_s_at_Crater_10_78.jpg.html 33827 While waiting for the 5397 to show up, a pair of tunnel motors head for P'burg with empty hoppers. They are just going over the east switch at Crater. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5397_Crater_2.jpg.html 33830 After changing crews at Phippsburg, the 5397 has topped the hill at Toponas and dropped down through Egeria and Rock Creek Canyons. Here they are at the east switch at Crater in October of 1978 http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5397_Crater.jpg.html 33833 A few moments later, 5397 is approaching the Crater loops. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/01404_Dorsey.jpg.html 33836 This final company view finds cab 01404 rolling east around Dorsey. The photographer was Kent Bolerjack, a commercial photographer from Boulder who did many of the compay views during this time. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/3117_Dell_2_77.jpg.html 33839 3117 and company hug the bank of the Colorado River passing the old station at Dell in February of 1977 http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/3117_Rear_Dell_2_77.jpg.html 33842 The rear of the 3117W swings around the curve at Dell with the usual mix of traffic seen on #287. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/3077_Sweetwater.jpg.html 33845 X3077W wheels downgrade near the old location of Sweetwater. This is along the Dotsero cutoff between Range and Dotsero as seen in August of 1978. http://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/PhotographersGallery/PGClassic/CConway/Tabernash-to-Dotsero/5325_E_Range.jpg.html 33848 SD 45 5325 along with the 3029, 3085 and 3115 head up an eastbound manifest on the approach to Range siding on September 23rd, 1979. There they'll meet westbound #17, the Rio Grande Zephyr.