Early this week the Winter Park Ski Train was sold for an undisclosed amount of money to Canadian National Railway Company. This marks an end of an era in both Colorado and winter sports history. The Ski Train had an impressively long run.

For the last sixty nine years the train made the two hour journey from Union Station to Winter Park Ski Resort. Originating as a mail train that would bring people up from Denver to Routt County to go skiing it became a iconic legend. For the last three years that I’ve lived in Colorado, I had heard numerous stories about the Ski Train. Sadly I was never be able to participate in it.

Probably the most notable memory patrons have is of the apres scene the bar car presented. Numerous friends and acquaintances told me that the two our trek back from Winter Park was spent drinking away the pains from a day of riding the slopes and reliving that days adventures. Honestly what better way could be spent traveling back from a ski resort? Rather than being stuck on I-70 in bumper to bumper traffic you’re chugging along at altitudes up to 9,000 feet through some of the most scenic views of the country.

With the economy the way it is and the remodel of Union Station it was only a matter of time before the train disappeared. Benjamin Waters a lobbyist in Denver was quoted as saying, “Phil Anshutz sold the ski train. I feel like someone just shot Santa Clause in the face.” I’m sure he’s not the only one that felt this way. Although just like Santa Clause the memories of the Ski Train can live on in our hearts. Even though it’s gone it is not forgotten.

Posted by Avran on Friday, April 24th, 2009 in Snow.

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