I am interested in knowing the year that the DRGW combined these two trains for the trip between Grand Junction and Salt Lake City ?
Thanks
Rob
Rob,
Not sure combined is the right word here. The Prospector continued until 28 May 1967. The Royal Gorge lasted until 27 July, 1967. The Rio Grande had earlier sought to discontinue the Royal Gorge in 1964, but the CO PUC only approved abandonment between Salida and Grand Junction. Effectively, the Royal Gorge terminated at Salida (from Denver via the Royal Gorge route), so passenger service over Tenn. Pass ended in 1964.
This is per Jackson Thode's "A Century of Passenger Trains...and then Some," 97-99.
I suspect it's something else you're thinking of, so will dig some more to see if I can figure out what it might be.
OK, found a bit more. The second Prospector (the first was a two-car motor car train that didn't last), started in 1948. The Prospector and the Royal Gorge were combined west of Grand Junction after the Prospector received new equipment in 1950. The first of these went into service 22 March 1950. (per Colo Rail Annual Number Nine, page 72.) So I presume this service lasted from 1950 to 1964, when the earlier mentioned cutback occurred.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
mlehmanThe Prospector and the Royal Gorge were combined west of Grand Junction after the Prospector received new equipment in 1950.
Amazing when you are directed to the better text for the subject, thanks for the help
Glad to be of assistance. My library is pretty deep with Rio Grande stuff, but the index in my brain leaves something to be desired some days. So long as I keep digging, I can usually come up with an answer.