This link was sent in by a reader who wanted to share it with the community. Perhaps someone might use this comment stream (below) to share some information about the current status of our valley track(s), and explain where the local train advocate group stands with regard to future operations in the valley? -thanks
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Good morning, Salida!
I have ridden behind the Union Pacific’s 844 steam engine and it is a wonderful beast to behold. If you can ever snag tickets to the Denver Post train ride to Cheyenne Frontiers days you will never forget the experience. I’m not sure if the Union Pacific would ever let the 844 come up the Canon to Salida, but it would be a great thing.
I too rode the 844 on an excursion to Wyoming many years ago. It was an incredible Fall day with beautiful scenery and wonderful photo ops. Several times, the train stopped, let people out , then backed up a ways and came roaring past on a curve at full speed blowing smoke and whistle.
The tracks from Canon City might barely hold this Big Boy, and surely no chance for a high speed run on this leg, but what a way to introduce people to the grandeur of this classic and maybe whet their appetite for other seasonal excursions up our way.
I added my email address and “voted” for Salida 81201 as a stop on this route at http://upexcursion.com It’s easy and railroads are our legacy. That should make a good reason for UP to run here.
Spread the word among your social network!
844 stopped in Salida on June 22, 1997 as part of a Denver to Salt Lake City special excursion. I’d have to rummage through boxes of old pre-digital photos to find the pictures I took, and somewhere I have some smashed pennies we put on rails. I’m sure a trip to the Mountain Mail archives or the microfilm cabinet at the library could come up with the big front-page story that day. The trained stopped in the old yards with many hundreds of us milling about. I found this photo online of 844 running north after it left Salida that day:
http://www.svsfilm.com/844browns.jpg
Clearly, this locomotive can fit on the line here, but how much work it would take to get the track in shape is quite another matter.
It is really neat that the 844 came through here. It is an awesome engine, but now usually has a diesal helper in case something goes wrong.
Could Salida and the surrounding area actually be a candidate for such a “steam excursion”? Given that the tracks haven’t been actively used for more than 10 years, it would seem that a lot of prep would have to be done to make such an extravaganza possible. It sure would be cool if it could happen!
I was told that the Union Pacific was on the verge of reopening the rail line through Salida when the economy went to hell. The Moffat Tunnel was at about full capacity and another route was needed to cross the mtns. Now I guess all bets are off.
I too got some great pics of the 844 when it came through Salida 13 years ago but I think it is doubtfull we will see it again being that there has been little if any maintainence on the line since. I was amazed to see a rail that had actually been broken by a falling rock in Browns Canyon a couple of years ago not to mentioned crossings that have been paved over and all the rail cars stored on the tracks up the canyon from parkdale to Spikebuck. I went to the U.P. site and Salida and this line does not even show on their map anymore.
Little Rock Express Edges Tuscola Turn to Win Union Pacific Railroad’s Great Excursion Adventure. Only 3,042 Votes Separate Two Routes as More than 178,000 Votes Are Cast
The Little Rock Express edged the Tuscola Turn by 3,042 votes to win Union Pacific Railroad’s Great Excursion Adventure – You Route the Steam Contest. Union Pacific will route one of its legendary steam locomotives from Kansas City, through St. Louis and on to Little Rock. The excursion date will be determined within the coming weeks.
http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/heritage_and_steam/2011/0118_excursion.shtml