Narrow Gauge Country
September 13-22, 2013
Saturday, September 14 - Drive Day
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Day 2 didn't start very early. With Chris still recovering from being sick, we weren't even sure if we could travel. But, around 10 AM we got the highball from Chris and hit the road. We ran up the front range to Walsenburg then jumped on 69 to Westcliffe and County Road 1A to Cotopaxi. Highway 50 took us on to Salida and Gunnison. Finally, we ran up 135 to Crested Butte. Overall it was a heckuva nice day for a drive in the mountains. |
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My view in Ben's new Tundra while running up the front range to Walsenburg |
A wave from Chris |
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Arriving in Walsenburg |
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Looking east to Denver |
Here's an unexpected find! |
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West to Alamosa |
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Continuing on to West Cliffe |
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It was a beautiful day for a drive |
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We stopped for photos near West Cliffe |
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D&RGW Caboose #01435
After arriving in West Cliffe, I asked the attendant at a gas station where the old railroad cars were located. To her credit, and my surprise, she pointed us in the right direction! |
The West Cliffe Highline? |
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Engine House Unfortunately it was closed. |
Replica Depot / Visitors Center |
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Michele and Ben |
Map of West Cliffe in Depot |
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These trucks came from Long Leaf, LA: The Southern Forest Heritage Museum and the Red River & Gulf Railroad. They were cast in Marshall, Texas. My buddy Everett Lueck helped facilitate this swap. |
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This is a steam powered lathe that was used to turn wheels out on the road when a car was bad-ordered and couldn't make it to a yard. It was powered by the locomotive. |
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There are plans undeway to rebuild a section of the yard between the Engine House and original Depot with a turn-table in this lot, it's original location. |
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The original Dept. It was recently purchased by All Aboard West Cliffe. While preparing to leave, Ben found a ticket on his truck for the insane amount of $5. His crime? Backing into the parking spot. The ticket stated that it must be paid in 48 hours and City Hall was closed. We spent 20 minutes trying to find the crappy cop that issued the ticket, to no avail. Michele and I ended up mailing the ticket from the hotel in Crested Butte. |
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Leaving West Cliffe |
Near Cotopaxi we found the Arkansas River and the dormant Tennessee Pass line of the famed 2nd Division of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad |
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Every time I make this drive I sorely wish to see a Rio Grande train blast by... |
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Limestone Quarry at Monarch Pass |
Looking west towards Sargents and the Gunnison Valley |
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Sargents, Colorado This helper station was once the 3rd Division cousin to Chama on the 4th Division. Note the house smack in the middle of the yard area. That is SACRED GROUND! |
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The tank doesn't look any worse since our last visit |
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After leaving Sargents, we highballed west to Gunnison and turned north towards Crested Butte. About 8 miles south we turned east on Cement Creek Road to drop Ben off at the Pioneer Guest Cabins. Chel and I were too late in booking a cabin and stayed in Mt. Crested Butte instead. This turned out to be a good thing for the events of Day 5. |
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