Page "Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad" Paragraph 14

The route over Tennessee Pass was known for steep grades, and it wasn't uncommon to see trains running with midtrain and rear-end helpers.

In 1997, a year after the D & RGW / SP merger with Union Pacific, the UP closed the line.

Although it has been out of service for fourteen years, the rails are still in usable condition, though many of the signals have been ravaged by time and vandals.

In 1998, Union Pacific sold of the route's track through the Royal Gorge in an effort to preserve the scenic route.

Two new corporations, the Canon City & Royal Gorge Railroad ( CC & RG ) and Rock & Rail, Inc. ( R & R ), joined together to form Royal Gorge Express, LLC ( RGX ) to purchase the line.

Passenger service on the new Royal Gorge Route Railroad began in May 1999.

The Royal Gorge Route Railroad operates trains on their 12-miles of track through the Royal Gorge year-round, from Canon City to Parkdale.

The Railroad is a heritage railway.

Apart from this stretch of track, and the odd Hi-Rail inspections between Parkdale and Dotsero, the Tennessee Pass subdivision has been out of service.