Rio Grande Ski Train headed by the SD70 heritage

[beavercreek]

Union Pacific repainted SD70ACe 6 diesels in the colours of the 'fallen flags' that they had absorbed along the way ( Missouri Pacific, Western Pacific, Missouri-Kansas-Texas, Chicago and North Western, Southern Pacific and of course, my beloved Rio Grande).

I was putting in a sound system into the USA Trains SD70 heritage and was also looking at the new issue of 'Trains' magazine. At the back it had a great photo of the SD70 heading the ski train in 2007. Unfortunately the 'Ski Train' that ran from Denver to the Winterpark ski resort does not run anymore and all the rolling stock was sold to Algoma Central Railway Inc, part of the Canadian National RR.

This is a shot of the USA Trains version of the SD70 but the USAT version is the SD70Mac not actually the one that it should be..the SD70ACe, the main difference being the big flared radiator intakes that should be on the USAT SD70.

The following ones are of the real SD70 ACe with the flared radiators that are missing on the USAT version

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Original colour scheme.

0420 hrs at Salt Lake City on the Zephyr..... heading on to Rio Grande territory (well, actually, that day we were diverted through Ogden, Echo Canyon, and across Wyoming and down to Denver, hence the pilot engine).

 

[beavercreek]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Nice pic Gavin

Have a few youtube vids of the Rio Grande Heritage in action:

Good vid of the heritage SD70 pulling a looooong train of automobile carrying cars, but with the help of some friends! About halfway in there is some good audio of the train detector system in full function.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmt7-R3v_8c

and behind some piggybacks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY5egc3gCqU&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL6783D2601F178FA1 < Link To http://www.youtube.com/wa...ist=PL6783D2601F178FA1

some vids showing the SD70 heritage pulling the Union Pacific 'Operation Life saver'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG45RfeDk7c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsJ8Z1nSC3Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnmEr_YNOaI

after about 2 mins into the vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZHD3Ds0Q0M&feature=related < Link To http://www.youtube.com/wa...0M&feature=related

 

[Richie]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Fantastic photo's of the SD70 in action Mike
Do like the photo you have used in your posting along the bottom of the page

 

[beavercreek]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Hi Richie
The bottom 'signature' photo is one from the current "Trains' Magazine. I have mucked about with it a bit so that it is a long thin strip as opposed to a 'normal' photo format.

I was going to try to set out my ski train with F3 ABB and the SD-70 heritage at the front and take a few photies.......but it was too cold and wet so I stayed inside!

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Up in the Front Range area, out of Denver?

 

[Woderwick]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Nice, The boys over at MTH got it right.

 

[beavercreek]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Yes Wod, they did, the only thing is that the bogie side frame detail on the MTH is a bit 'crude' compared with the USA Trains version, otherwise a great model, shame it isn't a bigger scale.................

 

[Woderwick]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Agreed. I got 2 ACe Kato N pumpkins, top notch. You might find this interesting. MAC at the front ACe just behind.

 

[beavercreek]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 pulling the now defunct ski train in 2007

Nice bunch of kit. I also see a couple of Dash 9s amongst them.

As there are no 'off the shelf' components available, I am going to try to fashion a radiator pod and a few other embelishments to convert my SD70 MAC into a ACE. I won't be able to do a complete rebuild of the body but it will look nearer than it does now!

 

[Glengrant]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Well, all very nice and that, but that's not a proper "Rio Grande", is it. Here's a proper Rio Grande

 

[beavercreek]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Well, all very nice and that, but that's not a proper "Rio Grande", is it. Here's a proper Rio Grande

Ah Cyril, I totally agree, even though the heritage is a fun diversion

 

[Glengrant]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Well, all very nice and that, but that's not a proper "Rio Grande", is it. Here's a proper Rio Grande

Ah Cyril, I totally agree, even though the heritage is a fun diversion

....thought you might say that. They, and the SP, didn't stop long enough for a wash in those days. 1995 I think it was...
Rather like your version though

 

[beavercreek]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Well the snows came and did they!....
Was a bit deep but after getting the rotary and flanger operating I manged to get a bit of the line clear (and oh yes.....with the help of 'the hand of God' as the rotary just clogged up!). I also got the chance to set out the Rio Grande Ski Train and to emulate the train that this thread is about.....the Ski Train being led by the Heritage SD70 (okay it should be the SD70 ACE and not the SD70 MAC).

Then the SD70 heritage was put on the front with ditch lights alternating as it was running at low speed

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Lovely evocative scenes in the snow there! I was hoping you'd be able to get some!

 

[chris m01]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Great photos.

 

[beavercreek]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Thanks James but I got p-p-p-perished getting them!

 

[CoggesRailway]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

BRILLIANT

 

[Richie]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Fantastic photo's Mike the Heritage looks very nice on the head end
Good to see your got those skiers to the slopes

 

[garrymartin]

Re:Rio Grande SD70 heritage

Marvellous stuff