Royal Gorge Route Railroad – Driver’s Eye View

I would like to thank the friendly staff for making my visit a real pleasure and a special thank you to the locomotive crew for mounting my camera on the locomotive to make this video possible.
This video was filmed on 15th September 2017

At the request of some American viewers I should point out that 'Train Driver' is not the general term used to describe the person at the controls of the locomotive, whereas 'Engineer' is the accepted title in the USA, I sincerely hope my American viewers will forgive me for this oversight.

Interesting reading copied from comments made by Chris Ball -

The suspension bridge above is the famous Royal Gorge Bridge. It was built in the late 1920s at an estimated cost of $350,000. Most of its wooden planks burned in a large wildfire in 2013, but they've been replaced since. The smaller bridge you go over mid-trip is the lesser known Hanging Bridge. It was designed by C. Shallor Smith in the late 1870s, and cost approximately $11,870 to construct. It was originally 90% over water and 10% over land, but with modern day reinforcements to accommodate larger trains, the ratio is now about 50-50.

The wooden pipeline on the opposite side of the river was built using prison labour, it was constructed using California redwood, back in 1908, completed in 1910, it served as Cañon City's
main source of water until 1973. The pipeline stretches for 8 miles, and you can still see sections of pipeline that remain intact, over 110 years later. It's rather amazing!

[neilpountney]

My dad has Alzheimer's and its hard to get him to watch anything but he loves these train journeys. Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to upload them

[leleslie]

I've rafted the Gorge many times and waved at the trains passing by,  when I wasn't paddling madly. Seeing the river and the beautiful rocks again from this viewpoint is a rare treat. Thank you so very much.

[indicasmama]

I love traveling by train. We live in a beautiful country a the best way to see it is by train. Thank you for sharing this ride.

[hartmutlorentzen]

Excellent video, no babbling, no music….., Thanks for presentation, from Germany

[SGTPaul-]

This is amazing. I ran into this at random, and am kicking myself that I never picked up on the virtual train / drive / hike, etc, niche before. I can see me watching a lot of these from now on! Just beautiful.

[cassieeckelman]

quarantine really got me picking up some new interests huh

[leedaht]

I’m a long distance trucker. It’s nice to see the scenery with someone else “driving”. Thank you!

[marilynteed]

My 91 yr old mom and I love this. Thanks !

[RRRIBEYE]

I also wanted to add, I have a 'connection' to these awesome train videos, for my grandfather was a track engineer for the Wabash Railroad, from Moberly, MO. He was self-taught in all the intense mathematics one would need to know for designing and laying out track - Did that for over 25 years, then worked 20+ years as a design engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, designing locks and dams from Clinton, IA to St. Louis along the Mississippi. After that, he was VP of engineering for Weitz Construction (recently built the new airport in Denver) then was the VP of Delevan Manufacturing and invented the jet fuel spray nozzle that is virtually used in every jet engine in flight today! An amazing man. I'm but a *blip of what he was. Anyway, I am amazed and thoroughly entertained by your videos. thank you.

[chitrasalloom]

Oh my God!! This video reminded me of the ride we took on the train in the summer of 1982. We had two children then, our son was 4 years old and our daughter was on 2 years.

We enjoyed the trip then, and today you have rekindled our emotions again. The scenery was absolutely stunning. I vividly remember at the narrowest passage (the train stopped to allow picture taking), it was very scary. You almost feel the side of the mountain and rocks are going to fall on you.

Thank you for bringing memories back!!

[willyvonbusche]

Thanks for the trip, Tim. One of the best I have had so far.

[waynecunningham]

My mom's family is all from Canon City. I spent many summers kicking around that old town irrigating and haying. I remember the good old days watching Rio Grande coal drags coming through. Been to Royal Gorge several times - I remember riding the old Buckskin Joe railroad to the edge of the gorge and watching DRGW freights at the bottom. But, many things have changed over the years. At least there are still trains running the route and horns echoing off the canyons.... Thanks for this video. Brings back a lot of great memories.

[venomhemi]

nice cup of coffee, took a few days off from work, watching your videos! Great work, very relaxing...

[helendower]

Thanks a million for the best ride I've had in years! Stay safe, everybody.

[laviniastoian]

Nepoții mei au autism și adoră astfel de filmulețe. Mulțumim pentru efort. God bless your work and thank you

[headmagisterwartune]

Yes indeed thank you to the train crew that attached the camera and you as well for posting this video I've been there many times but never seen it from this perspective and I also have trains in my genealogy and blood this was most enjoyable

[maureenr]

THANK YOU SO It's so great to escape from city life and still be in bed whilst enjoying a beautiful journey.

[sherylmcneill]

I rafted the Arkansas River years ago. Still one of my favorite memories. Thanks for this beautiful footage. 💟✌🙏

[Pjs]

Tim, another of your very interesting views from your travels. I found this locomotive based camera view led to more reflection on the investment in hours and planning to make a railway/railroad through such a torturous & inhospitable place. Let alone the separate building of a wooden pipeline - wow. 'Make do & mend' taken to extremes. Fascinating. Thanks for sharing another stunner. Peter

[sonjassermonettes]

I took a ride from K C to Needles, Cal. in 1966. I can say I am glad it was night time when we were in the mountains :) It was one fast train for sure. Love this video.