In February 1928 an astounding feat of railroad engineering was completed when the first locomotive passed through the 6.2-mile-long Moffat Tunnel, connecting the eastern and western sides of the Continental Divide in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and shortening the distance between Denver and the Pacific Coast by 176 miles. Later the construction of U.S. Highway 40 over the 11,307-foot summit of Berthoud Pass would further provide access to the stunning landscape of Grand County and its two crown jewels—Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park. Today the region is one of Colorado’s prime tourist attractions: a mecca for hikers who wish to explore hundreds of miles of trails; boaters who enjoy skimming over the glassy surface of Grand Lake, Shadow Lake, and Lake Granby; winter sports enthusiasts heading for the myriad slopes of Winter Park; and those who simply take delight in delving into the region’s multiple shops (many with fantasy …