Trains.com

The Ski Train?

947 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Germany
  • 357 posts
The Ski Train?
Posted by Supermicha on Thursday, September 9, 2004 8:34 AM
Does anybody know who operates the Rio Grande Ski Train F40PH2´s? Are they left in the Amtrak Fleet, or are they operated by Union Pacific as Rio Grande Successor?

Thanks,
Michael Kreiser www.modelrailroadworks.de
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, September 9, 2004 9:35 AM
As I understand it they are operated by the UP. They may be owned by the Ski-train organization along with the ex-VIA "Tempo" cars that replaced the beautiful ex NP classics now on the Napa Valley Wine Train, but I suspect the UP actually is the owner. They are ex-Amtrak as I understand it, but I could be wrong and they could be leased. I'm sure you will get a definite answer. But the operator is definitely the UP.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, September 9, 2004 9:53 AM
Close...Train owned by former DRGW owner Robert Anschutz (Ansco Investment Company), now a major stockholder at UP...Stored at Burnham shops along with other RGCX rolling stock, including an eclectic collection of ex-SP & DRGW derricks (big hooks). The old DRGW F-Units that used to pull the train are now stuffed and mounted on the grounds of the Colorado RR Museum in Golden.
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Thursday, September 9, 2004 2:08 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Close...Train owned by former DRGW owner Robert Anschutz (Ansco Investment Company), now a major stockholder at UP...Stored at Burnham shops along with other RGCX rolling stock, including an eclectic collection of ex-SP & DRGW derricks (big hooks). The old DRGW F-Units that used to pull the train are now stuffed and mounted on the grounds of the Colorado RR Museum in Golden.


A shame that the F units were not fully restored to operating condition. Understandably with diesel locomotives it is very expensive but with F unit that have historic value one would think that tax write offs would apply.

There is a picture of the F40s on www.railpictures.net they don't look bad in the Rio Grande yellow paint scheme.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    July 2004
  • 2,741 posts
Posted by Paul Milenkovic on Thursday, September 9, 2004 3:06 PM
Ah, F units in the high Rockies! I remember a 5 F-unit lashup dragging a 7 car train up into the mountains (this was back in the late 60's). Many years later it occured to me that a non-turbo F unit may not have much get up and go and altitude.

If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 9, 2004 10:36 PM
From what I can gather, the current engines for the Ski Train are 3 F40PH's that are owned by Amtrak and leased to the Anschutz Corporation. They are numbers 242, 283 and 289 painted in Rio Grande colors but still have AMTK reporting marks. This is as of last summer though, things might have changed since then. I have pictures and will try to have them in a future posting here.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 9, 2004 11:46 PM
Here are the pictures that I took back in July of 2003. The train was parked in front of Denver's Union Station. I was there that day because 3985 was also there on display (I was basically standing right in front of it to take these pics).





Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy