Status of former D&RGW Royal Gorge Route

(1)I am aware that UP stopped running traffic over this route several years ago.

(2)Are the rails still in place, or has UP removed them?

(3)Is there any reasonable scenario under which UP would resume operation of through freights over this line?

(4)Does UP own the tracks on which the Canon City-Royal Gorge scenic passenger trains run, or did it sell them to this tourist railroad?

DonPevsner wrote:(2)Are the rails still in place, or has UP removed them?

Tracks still in place from Dotsero to Pueblo. But vandals have stripped many signals. The line is "Rail-banked" (for possible use in the future). No trains run over but the occasional inspection truck isn't unheard of.

DonPevsner wrote:(3)Is there any reasonable scenario under which UP would resume operation of through freights over this line?

The Moffet Route gets to busy. But UP would bypass the route some other way.

DonPevsner wrote:(4)Does UP own the tracks on which the Canon City-Royal Gorge scenic passenger trains run, or did it sell them to this tourist railroad?

"In 1998, the Pueblo-Parkdale section was sold to Rock & Rail? and the Canon City & Royal Gorge, with Union Pacific maintaining trackage rights." (Source: http://www.drgw.net/info/index.php?n=Ma ... GorgeRoute)

Here are some photos from Railpictures on what the line looks like today:

Tennessee Pass Tunnel: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 802&nseq=8
Texas Creek: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 50&nseq=13
Belden: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 55&nseq=44

Hope This Helps.

Newbie here - just trying to understand the difference between owning track, owning the underlying land and tracking rights. Do UP or R&R/RG own the land around the tracks or just own the tracks? Or just right of way?