Train kept a rollin’

The old ski train at Winter Park Resort

   Many long time skiers and riders were dismayed last May when it was announced that the Winter Park Ski Train would end its popular 69-year tradition of bringing visitors to the Denver owned ski resort from Union Station in Denver.  Phil Anschutz, the owner of the Ski Train since 1988, citing increased costs and the effects of the economic collapse, decided to cease operations and sell the train to a Canadian firm, leaving many patrons of the weekend run to the mountains high and dry.  For almost seventy years the famous train was responsible for introducing people to the joys of skiing and to the charms and mystique of Winter Park and The Mary Jane.  Your humble reporter first discovered Winter Park after taking the train one very snowy Saturday in the 90’s.  On the ride back to Denver while partying with ski train regulars in the club car I said that when I die if paradise is the C-Chair and the runs it services then I would be content for eternity.  I moved to the Winter Park area that summer and never looked back.

   But all is not lost, enter Iowa Pacific Holdings a Chicago based operator of freight and sightseeing trains in Colorado and five other states.  After reaching an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad, which owns the rail line, to use the route from Denver to Winter Park it’s beginning to look like the venerable ski train may keep on rolling.  With a few details left to be ironed out, Iowa Pacific will use its own equipment and Amtrak will supply the crews and hopefully the tradition will continue.

Will the ski train keep a rollin