In January the Federal Railroad Administration recommended restoring Amtrak routes in the West. One recommendation would bring the train service back to Cheyenne.
Decades ago, when Amtrak served Wyoming, the train stopped in cities along the Union Pacific route across southern Wyoming, including in Rawlins. The FRA recommendation could once again have such a whistle-stop for passenger service.
Or possibly there would be a train service linking Cheyenne with Casper and Billings.
What would be even better is if there was service also connecting to Denver, which would expand the possibilities for traveling by train since the California Zephyr network connects at Denver’s Union Station.
Of course, all of this is only a recommendation – and perhaps wishful thinking. Whether it actually happens is anybody’s bet. But for my money, I sure hope we get passenger train service again.
I’ve only ridden a few trains in North America – The Durango Silverton a couple of times, the Amtrak Cascades between Seattle and Portland, the Alaskan Railway from Anchorage to Denali – and Amtrak’s California Zephyr to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
I must say, next to traveling in a wagon, this very well may be my favorite mode of transportation.
On my first Amtrak journey the train rolled into the small station at Granby, Colorado, on a November morning a few years ago, stopping long enough for the four passengers waiting there to step aboard and take our seats, before it moved off to the west.
A fresh snowfall covered the ground creating a winter-perfect scene as we followed the Colorado River on a three-hour journey to Glenwood Springs.
The train was quiet; there were big windows so you had good views (and no need to do the driving). There was a lot of space – room for your legs (even my short ones), to recline, and then there was the ability to wander around the train to the observation car or the lounge car.
The train ride to Glenwood Springs ended in early afternoon. Glenwood is meant for exploring, so we rented a car and headed to the cemeteries!
First stop was Rosehill Cemetery. After some searching, we found the grave of an aunt who died in 1928 – either the victim of a suicide or possibly a murder. We left some flowers then headed to the Linwood Cemetery that holds the bones of Doc Holliday.
Holliday was one of the first burials in this cemetery and the site of his actual grave is unknown – he was most likely placed in the potter’s field.
There is a spot in the cemetery developed as a memorial to the famous gambler/dentist/gunman. He of course stood with the Earps at the now famous gun battle at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881.
Also buried in Linwood is Kid Curry. A memorial to him is at the opposite side of the cemetery from Doc’s marker. This location on the top of the hill above Glenwood not only serves a helping of Old West history, but also provides a great view of the city below.
Just last year, we took another Amtrak trip to Glenwood Springs – this time boarding at Union Station in Denver.
The climb into the Rockies – and through the Moffat Tunnel – was such a different experience from driving between Denver and Berthoud Pass to Winter Park.
When the train emerged from the tunnel the view at Winter Park was honestly pretty enchanting. After several skiers departed the train, our journey continued past Hot Sulphur Springs and back to Granby, again following the Colorado River to Glenwood Srpings.
There were no cemeteries on my second train-ride adventure to Glenwood Springs. This time the reason to visit that Colorado town was to spend a couple of days enjoying the hot mineral pools.
Now, I can begin to dream of the trips I could take on Amtrak if – dare I say when – the service comes back in Wyoming.
Candy Moulton can be reached at candy.l.moulton@gmail.com
