RGX 2012 - Trip Report
June 14 - June 23
Day 10 - Saturday, June 23
To round out an amazing trip to Narrow gauge Country, I bought a ticket on the Cinco Animas. I figured it would be nice, but it exceeded my expectations. The only downside to the D&S is the lack of view from the coaches. But, riding in the Parlour Car nicely solved that problem. The view from the back platform can not be beat! Plus, there's plenty of room to get up and walk around.
After settling in the nice plush chair, I started chatting with the family that boarded after me. It turns out that 7 of the 12 people in the back half of the car were Marines (including me, of course). Small world!
Please let me know if you find mistakes - RioGrandeDude @ SmittysHouse.net
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The Cinco Animas awaits passengers in the crisp, cool morning air of Durango Yard |
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My seat for the day (left) |
The view from my chair |
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Departing Durango |
Animas River - MP 452.4 |
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New Wye - MP 456.85 |
New Wye - MP 456.85 |
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Home Ranch Siding MP 457.25 |
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We stopped at Hermosa for water (a rare treat) and chatted with a MOW crew |
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Our attendant (Ellie) handed down a bag of donuts for the guys |
Hermosa Creek - MP 462.45 |
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Leaving the MOW guys behind |
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Crossing US 550 - MP 462.7 |
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Airline seats onboard the new car "Knight Sky." The design of the car was inspired by the famous "Silver Vista" |
About here I spotted a line side fire and told the Brakeman. He informed the Conductor who then called the Dispatcher who then notified the Fire Patrol that was trailing the train |
No idea... |
Aboard the Cinco Animas |
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Pinkerton Siding - MP 465.7 |
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Crossing US 550 - MP 467 |
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Shalona Lake |
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Rockwood - MP 469.1 |
Rockwood Cut - 469.2 |
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The HIGH LINE - MP469.5 |
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Animas River |
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You certainly can't see views like this from a coach! |
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The High Bridge - MP 471.2 |
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Telegraph pole still standing |
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You simply can't beat the view from the rear platform! |
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Tacoma - MP 472.3 |
The newly rebuilt "Tacoma Depot" |
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Former D&RGW rolling stock slowly falls apart on Tacoma Siding. Very sad. |
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Ah! Wilderness - MP 474 |
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Brakeman guards the rear at Tank Creek - MP 474.6 |
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More donuts for the Fire Patrol |
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Tank Creek - MP 474.6 |
Flag Stop at Tall Timber |
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Tall Timer Resort and it's helicopter |
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I'll bet it's absolutely tranquil out here at night. What a place to live! |
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Cascade Canyon Wye - MP 477.5 |
Tefft Bridge - MP 477.75 |
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One of the MANY fire-breaks that the D&S MOW crews have constructed recently |
View from my chair |
Bitter Root Mine MP 479.5 |
MP ~481.8 |
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MP ~481.8 |
Needleton Siding - MP 484 |
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Needleton Tank - MP 484.4 |
We dropped off 2 Amtrak Railroaders here for a ride on the pop car. This was a professional courtesy... and quite a perk! |
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Needleton Tank - MP 484.4 |
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Site of the BIG SLIDE in 2011 that shut the railroad down for a week and blocked the Animas |
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Site of the land slide in 2006 that Michele and I got caught in: 2006 Video Report |
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New & Old Bridges across the Animas - MP 489.85 |
Old mainline (now a spur) to the old through-truss bridge at MP 489.85 |
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Telegraph Pole |
Elk Park Wye - MP 490.5 |
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Elk Park Siding - MP 490.7 |
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WOW! |
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Crossing the Animas into Baker's Park - MP 495.25 |
Champion Mine |
This guy met the train just after the Animas Crossing... |
... and raced along side blowing an "Ah-woogaa" horn. It's a helluva way to advertise! |
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Silverton Northern Engine House |
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The Denver & Rio Grande Western Silverton Depot |
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LUNCH!! Best grub in Silverton! |
The "Casey Jones" from the Silverton Northern |
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Inside Casey - Awfully cozy in there... |
Train 463 Arriving |
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The smoke was from a wild fire near Dolores |
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Silver Vista |
Train 465 Arriving |
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D&S Fireman Jon Walden - I was hanging around hoping to get to chat with Jon. |
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Getting ready to back down to the wye |
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Trains 463 and 465 arriving in Silverton
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Train 462 (my train) getting to depart |
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Cinders |
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Chandelier aboard the Cinco Animas |
Leaving Silverton |
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Video Montage filmed from the rear platform of the Cinco Animas. Part I
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Taking water at Needleton MP 484.4 |
WOW! |
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Video Montage filmed from the rear platform of the Cinco Animas. Part II
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Video Montage filmed from the rear platform of the Cinco Animas. Part III
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The world-renowned High Line |
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Rockwood Cut - MP 469.2 |
Rockwood - MP 469.1 |
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East end of Rockwood Yard |
Shalona Lake |
This is the location of the fire I spotted that morning. There was a good-sized scorch mark, but the Fire Patrol got to it in time to prevent a big mess. |
Video Montage filmed from the rear platform of the Cinco Animas. Part IV
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A parting shot.. |
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I got back to the hotel in Carbon Junction exhausted! It's an 18 hour drive home from Durango, so I had to sleep fast and get up about 0200. Shortly before turning in I got a knock on the door. I opened it and was shocked to see one of Durango's finest (DPD) standing there. He asked if I was "Mr. Rose." I affirmed. He then asked if I'd hit a motorcycle in the parking lot. I think the dumb-founded look on my face answered his question before I spoke. It turns out that someone rear-ended and knocked over a bike in the parking lot and I was suspected because my truck has a dent in the rear fender. I assured the officer that it wasn't me and advised that he look more closely at that dent in my truck for signs of rust because it certainly wasn't a new one. He agreed to do so and bid me a goodnight.
Disaster averted, I called it a night.
I'd like to say that was my last run-in with law enforcement on this trip. But, it wasn't. A cop snagged me in Aztec doing 25 in a 15. Geez... is it really that big of a deal at 0230 in the morning?! But, he was kind. That is... until my scanner crackled to life with HIS dispatcher's voice! He asked me why I had a scanner and was scanning Police bands. I quickly figured I'd tell him the truth because it was crazier than any story I might come up with. And besides that, I'm a really bad liar. So, I told him that I use it to listen to railroads and the railroad in Aztec had been gone since 1968. So, I had the scanner set to scan all frequencies for anything that might be happening at 0230 in the morning. He looked at me like I was nuts, but let me go.
There are no pictures from the trip back to Spring because, frankly, I was too dang tired to care to take any. And besides, does anyone really care about eastern New Mexico and north Texas. It's BORING. However, the trip down to Albuquerque and Santa Fe was GORGEOUS at night. The sun didn't come up until I was near Glorieta, east of Santa Fe.
As soon as I got back I began pouring over the technical manuals to further familiar myself with the new network and camera hardware. I also began making plans to return in September to finish the project. It was a long summer of waiting...
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