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California Zephyr to detour through Wyoming
One of the most scenic parts of a trip on the Zephyr is from Denver to Salt Lake City. It is arguably the best ride on Amtrak’s system.
If I had booked a reservation on the Zephyr with the intent of seeing the beautiful country between Denver, no hype would mollify my disappointment of being routed through Wyoming.
Good point, but I guess they have to do it before the summer season but after any possibility of bad weather.
I think the only hype here was added by the Trains staff, and it’s directed toward railfans.
By making this announcement this early, Amtrak is giving the general public time to change their plans.
Yeah, this affects my trip. At least I’ve seen Colorado before and there should be a steady stream of freights across Wyoming. But still… they sure do a lot of work on the old DRG&W.
I’ve ridden the former D&RGW Denver-Salt Lake segment dozens of times. In the mid-1990s I would intentionally plan some of my trips to use the Pioneer over Sherman Hill instead, to observe the big-time Union Pacific railroading on that route. It was always a thrill. But those who aren’t railroaders or former railroaders would probably feel differently about being on a little Amtrak passenger train in between two hot intermodals, all running in the same direction on triple track! That’s never going to happen on the regular Zephyr route.
And your train rides much smoother, safer, and efficiently on well maintained track structure, just like highway construction needs make for detours.
Oh, to be able to actually get a chance to ride that section to see that part of the country. A pity that they can’t use the former Amtrak stations used by the Pioneer for stops (assuming they still stand). Upon learning this, I imagine there will be a lot of passengers lining up to board in Denver or Salt Lake City that are either rail-fans or folks looking for a little nostalgia.
I hope as they go thru Ogden Ut.I can get on an east bound and take a ride to Rawlins or Larimie Wy. stay a day and the come back on a westbound.Just for the fun of it.I wish they used this route all the time and then at Ogden went south to LA or north to Portland OR.
I agree with the comment from Paul Smith Jr. There is no comparison to the Denver-Salt Lake City run through Colorado. Certainly, not the Overland Route through Wyoming. The comparison is like night and day. I have experienced both routes… I would be most unhappy if I were booked on the affected dates.
rode THE PIONEER, going thru canyons that you would never see, such as GORE CANYON, etc. if possible, ride this route while you have the time. words cannot express what your eyes behold.
rode THE PIONEER, going thru canyons that you would never see, such as GORE CANYON, etc. if possible, ride this route while you have the time. words cannot express what your eyes behold.