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| UP 844 Trip through the Royal Gorge June 1997 |
| In early 1997 Union Pacific announced a steam excursion, featuring their big Northern 844, which would run from Denver to Salt Lake City. It would include a run through the famous Royal Gorge and over the 10,000 ft Tennessee Pass. So two friends and I made plans to chase the steam train on this once in a lifetime trip. |
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| Here is a shot of the Royal Gorge Bridge. The bridge was built strictly for tourist. It stands 1,000 ft above the river and the railroad tracks. It costs about $6 to go out on the bridge $20 to drive across. |
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| It takes alot to dwarf a steam engine, 3 E-units and a 20 car passenger train but the Royal Gorge does a capable job. If you look in the center of the picture you will see the train as it runs alongside the river. |
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| There isn't much room for error on these tracks. The train eases through the gorge. Alongside the Arkansas River still running fast with water from snow melting. |
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| Looking straight down 1,000 feet from the bridge as the train passes underneath. The sound of the river, steam engine stack talk and the whistle were incredible. |
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| Here the train stops briefly so passengers can get pictures. The train is actually on a bridge because there was no room for roadbed between the canyon wall and the river. |
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