![]() The train is a destination attraction that carries passengers under the Royal Gorge suspension bridge. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad operates trains year-round through the Royal Gorge from Canon City, Colorado to the western terminus in Parkdale, Colorado. Although it has been strengthened over the years, this unique structure has served on a main rail line for over 118 years. The bridge cost $11,759 in 1879, a princely sum in those days. ![]() Shallor Smith, a Kansas engineer, designed a 175-ft plate girder suspended on one side by "A" frame girders spanning the river and anchored to the rock walls. Royal Gorge Route Railroad excursions from Caon City to Parkdale and return. Here the railroad had to be suspended over the river along the north side of the gorge as sheer rock walls go right down into the river on both sides. A description of the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Caon City Colorado. The 1950s-era train departs the Santa Fe depot in Canon City daily.Īn interesting part of the Santa Fe construction through the gorge is the hanging bridge at a point where the gorge narrows to 30 feet. The railroad transits the Royal Gorge on a 2-hour scenic and historic train ride along what is considered to be the most famous portion of the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. For information, call 1-888-RAILS-4U.The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is a heritage railroad located in Cañon City, Colorado. \"Plus this summer, when you buy tickets through our Web site ( ) starting May 19, you can get tickets for the train ride and the Royal Gorge Bridge and save $4 per ticket.\"Ĭost of the train/bridge combo tickets is $37.95 for adults or $25.50 for children ages 3 to 12. \"Because of the Fremont County promotion, we had nearly 600 passengers last weekend,\" Greska said. Pueblo and Colorado Springs residents will be treated to half-price rides in February and March, which will cost $12.25 for adults or $8.25 for children ages 3-12. To thank local customers for their support, the tourist train will offer $5 per person rides to Fremont County residents this weekend and again Jan. in Canon City and the Portland Cement Plant near Penrose.ĭuring the summer, the tourist train will make three runs daily at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m., starting May 14. In addition to hauling rock and gravel from the Parkdale quarry, Marshall also serves customers such as Cotter Corp. Still unresolved is the issue of track maintenance expenses of which Greska said his company is bearing the brunt. Whether we are on the main line or not, it is OK to go around,\" Greska said. \"In the summer when we run more often and we have to be on the track, Rock ?N Rail still has access. That arrangement works well for the tourist train, which departs at noon each Saturday and Sunday during the winter. \"Right now, we are off the tracks and parked in the yard, so we will just pull out when it is time for our run,\" Greska said. When the safety issue over use of the siding was raised during the meeting, an expert hired by the tourist train operators pointed out that the siding has a signal and using it is \"not a safety issue,\" Greska said. They told us they will not do it again and they will work around our published schedule,\" said Mark Greska, co-owner of the tourist train operation. \"They (Rock ?N Rail) are not going to block our trains anymore. Representatives of both sides sat down Friday in Denver with a representative of the state and resolved their differences. He feared the transfers of rock-laden trains were too dangerous. Marshall said his crews blocked the train because it was blocking the main line and causing his trains to transfer to a \"siding\" (side track) to get through Canon City. 8-9, the tourist train was unable to run because a Rock ?N Rail high-rail maintenance vehicle (essentially a pickup truck equipped with rail wheels) was blocking the track. In 1998, the two companies purchased a 12-mile stretch of track from Parkdale to Canon City from the Union Pacific railroad.Īlthough each company owned an equal share, the tourist train, owned by the Lindsey Ashby family, and Rock ?N Rail, owned by Ray Marshall of Colorado Materials in Colorado Springs, recently came to loggerheads over track use issues. Canon City and Royal Gorge Railroad operates a tourist train, while Rock ?N Rail hauls rock and gravel from a Parkdale quarry to Colorado Springs. The latest railroad war was a battle over use of those same tracks constructed by D&RG. The courts eventually awarded the route to the D&RG. Railroad crews 133 years ago fought for a chance to lay tracks through the gorge and thus win the silver hauling business in Leadville. ![]() Unlike the first Royal Gorge railroad war in 1877 between the Santa Fe and Denver & Rio Grande railroads, this feud ended without a court battle. CANON CITY - A modern day railroad war was settled last week following peace talks between the Canon City and Royal Gorge tourist train operators and the Rock ?N Rail freight train owner. ![]()
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