Durango Silverton RR Crossing the River DSC07702
by Greg Kluempers
Title
Durango Silverton RR Crossing the River DSC07702
Artist
Greg Kluempers
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Durango Silverton RR Crossing the River
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (reporting mark DRGW), often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was an American Class I railroad company. The railroad started as a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870. It served mainly as a transcontinental bridge line between Denver, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The Rio Grande was also a major origin of coal and mineral traffic. In 1988, the Rio Grande's parent corporation, Rio Grande Industries, purchased Southern Pacific Transportation Company, and as the result of a merger, the larger Southern Pacific Railroad name was chosen for identity. Today, most former D&RGW main lines are owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad; several branch lines are now operated as heritage railways by various companies.
The Rio Grande was the epitome of mountain railroading, with a motto of Through the Rockies, not around them and later Main line through the Rockies, both referring to the Rocky Mountains. The D&RGW operated the highest mainline rail line in the United States, over the 10,240 feet (3,120 m) Tennessee Pass in Colorado, and the famed routes through the Moffat Tunnel and the Royal Gorge. At its height, around 1890, the D&RG had the largest operating narrow gauge railroad network in North America. Known for its independence, the D&RGW operated the last private intercity passenger train in the United States, the Rio Grande Zephyr.
At the end of 1970 it operated 1,903 miles (3,063 km) of road on 3,227 miles (5,193 km) of track; that year it carried 7733 ton-miles of revenue freight and 21 million passenger-miles.
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November 12th, 2017
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Viewed 771 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/23/2024 at 12:12 PM
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Comments (5)
Toni Hopper
Congratulations Greg on your image earning a feature in our Spirit of the West Photographs only group. You may add it to our February Features discussion. Thanks so much for being an active member. I can imagine the fun you had in getting this shot.
Jan Mulherin
Congratulations! Your outstanding work has been FEATURED on the Home Page in the Fine Art America group “Forests and Woodlands”! For permanent recognition of artists who have been featured in our group, we offer a place on our Discussions Page for you to paste a copy of your image’s Embed URL! Thanks for your participation!