by Steve Jessup/photos as noted
In August 2021, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours found a new route and launched its first all-daylight luxury train in the United States. Technically speaking, it wasn’t really the first as RMR crossed the border into Washington as early as 2013 (only four departures) to help connect Seattle to its primary train out of Vancouver, B.C. The Seattle extension continued for six full seasons before Rocky killed it after 2019 on account of very low demand. It’s hard to believe even a Rocky Mountaineer link wasn’t so popular here, but Armstrong Collective, the parent company of RMR, felt all along that a full, all-U.S. route would be a big-time winner. And they were right!
“Rockies to the Red Rocks” was the name given to this new 2021 train, running from Denver to Moab, Utah. It allowed passengers to view the Colorado Rockies with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs. The journey continued west and terminated at Moab, a popular vacation destination near Arches National Park. The train returned to Denver tracing the same path. After overnighting at Glenwood Springs, passengers boarded again for the run back to the Mile High City.
ABOVE: Between the railroad locations of Narrows and Gilluly, Canyon Spirit cruises eastward, nearing the Highway 6 Tie Fork Rest Area. Grades ahead will be better than 2 percent as the train climbs toward the summit. —Steve Jessup photo
For five years, it has been a smashing success. The train uses two locomotives and 10 cars, all single level. For those familiar with Rocky trains in Canada, you might wonder why bi-level Ultradome cars are missing. The answer is that they are just a bit too high for safe clearance through all the tunnels on the old Rio Grande line. Amtrak’s California Zephyr also runs the route, but its Superliners are lower than the bi-levels built for Rocky, thus they’re no problem.
With the 2026 season came a rebranding and expansion. The name of the train is now Canyon Spirit, and the expansion adds a third leg — Moab to Salt Lake City. Passengers can now enjoy a three-day rail tour (one way, either direction) and have the advantage of flying into or out of a major airport at either end.
ABOVE: Early morning light brightens the red rocks north of Moab as Canyon Spirit heads directionally north to Brendel. Passengers will board at the siding of Thompson Springs before heading west to Soldier Summit and eventually Salt Lake City. —James R. Doughty photo
Early each week, the train climbs the eastern side of the Rockies, passing through the famous Moffat Tunnel and winding its way to Glenwood Springs. The following day it’s off to Moab with passengers de-training north of town at the siding of Seven Mile on UP’s Cane Creek Subdivision.
The expansion to Salt Lake City changes operations out of Moab. After all the passengers are safely off the train, the power is switched to the north end and the entire consist is shoved into the Seven Mile spur. In the morning, the empty train heads north up the Cane Creek Sub to the turnout at Brendel (where there is no wye) and heads east five miles to the siding of Thompson Springs (aka Thompson). The power is then switched to the west end, and passengers board at Thompson after being bused from Moab. It is set up this way so that guests won’t experience the inconvenience of switching delays on board or any issues with turning the seats to face forward…
