Jerry, I agree UP may not be all that impressed about keeping a railroad between Salt Lake and Denver over the former DRGW. Word is they like the revenue from the coal hauls so maybe coal will support the line for a few years. The thing about UP is they are looking at the bottom line of the income statement. Sentiment goes no further than the $$$ the RR line will bring to the coffers of UP.
Tenn Pass is not going to open any time soon but never say never. Anything may happen in the future. Again it would depend on the rate of return ETC. The ride over Tenn Pass is breath taking but so is the ride from Denver to the Moffat Tunnel and so is La Veta Pass (my favorite). Cumbres and the Silverton I sort of like too. I never got on Monarch but I sure do like looking at pictures of it.
Woody W