Rio Grande of the Rockies

SKU: DVD-WBV-015
(5 customer reviews)

Original price was: $29.95.Current price is: $24.95.

Mid-50s was a fascinating mixture of huge standard gauge steam,1st gen diesels and narrow gauge steam.

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Producer

WB Video
Narration

Yes
Run Time

1 hour
Technical Details

No Region Code

In the mid 50’s motive power on the Denver & Rio Grande Western consisted of a fascinating mixture of huge standard gauge steam engines, first generation diesels and narrow gauge steam engines…some built before the turn of the century. With his love of the steam engine, Irving E. August documented these glory days on the D&RGW in high quality 16mm color film. Mr. August donated these rare films to the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club and by special arrangement, WB Video is honored to make these unique images available to all.

In this program, you will experience the massive Standard Gauge 3600 2-8-8-2’s blasting up fabled Tennessee Pass, see workhorse F-9 diesel power assist 3600’s up to the Moffat Tunnel and witness the legendary California Zephyr with PA diesels.

Narrow Gauge operations include long two-engine gondola trains on the Monarch Branch with its unique switchback. K-27 #453, K-28 #473 and K-37 #497 are seen in the Durango yard and the “Silverton Mixed” leaves with 3 coaches, a caboose and business cars B-2 and B-7…still in Pullman Green paint. Near Montrose #318, a diminutive 2-8-0 hurries by with a freight and at Gunnison, #268 is just in from the last run on the Sapinero Branch. K-36 #487 plows through deep snow with a flanger-ore train from Gunnison to Crested Butte. Then you are on board the last train over Marshall Pass with #483 and #489.

Irv August narrates his own story of those wonderful days on the D&RGW.

5 reviews for Rio Grande of the Rockies

  1. Curtis Watson –

    Excellent images of Rio Grande Steam. Mostly Narrow Gauge, but some good Standard Gauge shots, too.

  2. Mwdonoughue –

    This programs showcases steam and early diesels in both freight and passenger service, with early shots of the California Zephyr and 2-8-8-2’s in pusher service.

  3. rickyfreni –

    From the standard gauge with 2-8-8-2 articulated giants to 3 foot narrow gauge on the Silverton branch & the since been abandoned Marshall pass line, steam still stands forever on the rio grande despite that 99% of the standard gauge are gone for scrap while there are appearances by narrow gauge survivors: 318, 473, 478, 481, 483, & 489.

  4. Carl M Guzowsky –

    This a good video. The image quality previously questioned is not a function of the camera so much as the film. 16mm film available then did not hold a very sharp image and tended to have a very contrasty image. There is some very good footage of steam used then. I am not impressed with the WB videos as they are difficult to load. I also question the use of “WB” as Waner Brothers also uses this moniker.

  5. Steam Lover –

    I understand the previous reviewer’s complaint about the image quality, but… oh my – those images!! Durango under steam. Gunnison! And not just narrow gauge, but those D&RGW BIG steamers – on Marshall Pass!! Yes, a few pieces of film are not always in focus, but the images themselves are amazing!

  6. Car –

    I’d like to give this a 5-star because of the subjects and the scenes. I really enjoyed it and other WB Videos. However, though Mr. Irving used a 16mm camera, either he did not know how to focus or the lense was not good for action shooting. The images were fuzzy and sometimes out of focus. I find most of the videos from WB Videos have this problem.

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