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Learn about the history and operations of the D&RGW, a former American Class I railroad company that ran narrow-gauge lines in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. The article covers the railroad's origins, conflicts, mergers, routes, and legacy.
- Raton Pass
- System Map
- Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway
- Rio Grande Western Railway
- Modern Network
- Rio Grande Southern Railroad
- Passenger Trains
- Diesel Roster
- Steam Roster
- Southern Pacific Purchase
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What blossomed into the West's most famous railroad was already a powerful corporation by the 1870's and was feverishly extending towards the Pacific coast. It had arrived in nearby La Junta on February 16, 1876. A year later, William Barstow Strong was elected vice president and general manager. This iron-willed individual became a constant irrita...
It extended south from Alamosa, reaching Espanola on December 30, 1880. Just over six years later the line was finished into the fabled trading post on January 8, 1887. Unfortunately, the "Chili Line" was never particularly profitable. It was riddled with curves as sharp as 22 degrees and grades as steep as 4%. Furthermore, the AT&SF already served...
As a result, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway was organized on July 21, 1881 with rights to build from the state line to Salt Lake City via Green River, Soldier Summit, and Provo. To aid in this effort, an earlier charter known as the Sevier Valley Railway was acquired along with three other small short lines; the Bingham Canyon & Camp Floyd...
He chartered the State Line & Denver Railway for the purpose of purchasing the D&RG from Grand Junction to the Utah state line. He then merged it with the Denver & Rio Grande Western during June of 1889, forming the Rio Grande Western Railway. Next, the work of converting the entire network to standard-gauge was carried out; the main line from Ogde...
In 1896, Gould's empire was handed over to his son, George, who continued his father's transcontinental ambitions. At this time he controlled the Missouri Pacific, Wabash, Western Maryland, Wheeling & Lake Erie, and the Rio Grande. George is credited with reuniting the D&RG and Rio Grande Western under common management by acquiring stock control o...
Of Colorado's numerous railroads built to serve the legendary San Juan mining district, one of the more noteworthy was the Rio Grande Southern (RGS). This system was incorporated on November 5, 1889 and promoted by Otto Mears. By that time he had already been involved with various ventures related to the mining industry. The RGS opened from a conne...
California Zephyr: (Chicago - Denver - Salt Lake City - San Francisco) Colorado Eagle: (St. Louis - Pueblo - Denver) Exposition Flyer: Operated between Oakland, California and Chicago in conjunction with the Burlington and Western Pacific until 1949 (replaced by the CZ). Mountaineer: (Denver - Montrose, Colorado) Panoramic: (Denver - Odgen) Prospec...
American Locomotive Company Baldwin Locomotive Works Electro-Motive Corporation/Electro-Motive Division Davenport Locomotive Works Fairbanks-Morse General Electric Krauss-Maffei
Standard-Gauge Locomotives Narrow-Gauge Locomotives Despite the rugged topography the Rio Grande possessed an impressive operation cutting through the heat of the Rockies. The road was true to its slogan, "Through The Rockies, Not Around Them" as it boasted three main lines across the region; over Moffat Tunnel, through the Pueblo gateway crossing ...
After its cancellation in 1970 the Rio Grande continued to host the service as the Rio Grande Zephyrfrom Denver to Salt Lake City. This lasted until 1983 when it finally turned its equipment over to Amtrak. After purchasing an ailing Southern Pacific in 1988, Rio Grande Industries (Rio Grande's parent company) slowly integrated the smaller Denver &...
Learn about the Denver & Rio Grande Western, one of the most successful and colorful narrow-gauge railroads in American history. Explore its origins, routes, locomotives, and legacy from 1870 to 1988.
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. Founded by Gen. William J. Palmer, a Union veteran of the Civil War, the Rio Grande started building a narrow gauge line south from Denver in 1871 toward Mexico. At its peak mileage in 1917, the Rio Grande was operating nearly 6,000 miles of track.
The original Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway (D&RGW) built a narrow gauge line from Ogden, Utah via Soldier Summit, Utah to Grand Junction, Colorado. The railroad became the Rio Grande Western Railway in 1889 and built several branch lines in Utah to reach lucrative coal fields.
The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (reporting mark DRGW), often shortened to Rio Grande, D&RG 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.
The Denver & Rio Grande never reached farther south than northern New Mexico. As the D&RG Railway expanded westward, it ran into conflicts with other railroads that also wanted to build in the lucrative mining regions of the Rocky Mountains.
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