Riding with Beebe and Clegg

[Firelock76]

Just got the latest action-packed issue of "Classic Trains," and it's another home run!

I really enjoyed the article titled "Beebe and Clegg Ride the Rio Grande Southern" as I got a nice surprise out of it.  The two RGS business cars Lucius and Charles rode during the trip are now used as parlor cars on the Durango and Silverton.  Lady Firestorm and I rode one of the parlor cars on the D&S back in 2000 and we're glad we spent the extra fare to do so, and more so now, it's the closest we'll ever come to riding with Beebe and Clegg!

I can't say I felt a "presence" in there, but then I don't drink as much as those two did. 

"All I want is the best of everything and there's precious little of that left!"  Lucius once said, but trust me, you won't have that problem in a D&S parlor car.

[Miningman]

Out West and in the mountains in a beautiful parlour car is an experience for everyone of us to undertake. Sipping a fine Brandy or Port and my pipe or a great cigar...well they won't let you do that anymore unless you're Buffet or Gates and its your own car. 

Glad you got to do it. Great memories. 

[SPMan]

Great article about these two railfan/writer legends.  Just got my copy today and still have most of it to enjoy.  Love that ACL and SAL shot of the colorful way the early diesels were painted.  I have always been a fan of the ACL.  Still haven't gotten over going to all black yet after having that beautiful purple and silver livery.  At least my models are painted the right way.

Ray

[Firelock76]

Things may have changed since then, but 16 years ago the D&S parlor cars had a pretty well stocked bar on board.  I had a few shots of "Bushmills" in memory of all those Irishmen who put that railroad through.  Also you could smoke on the parlor car, but only outside on the rear platform.  The only rule concerning the platform was "Don't hog it up, give everyone else a chance to ride outside."  

There was a good group on board that day, all ladies and gentlemen, and NO platform hogs!

[SPMan]

Your reference to smoking on the back platform reminded me of trip on the regular Durango and Silverton back in 1996.  There was no smoking allowed then even on the platforms.  We had a breakdown enroute to Silverton due to a water leak in the firebox of our engine.  We were there a long time waiting for another engine to pull us into Silverton.  By then the smokers were having nicotine fits and tried smoking outside the cars but the railroad employees would not allow it.  I'm glad I quit so now I don't have to worry about such things.

Ray

 

[Firelock76]

SP Man's right about those colorful early diesels, like the ACL and Seaboard E-Units on pages 14-15 of the current issue.

This past weekend I bought a Williams 0 Gauge F unit set in ACL purple.  I'm not a big diesel fan but there's just something about that ACL color scheme that caught my eye.  Hey, if I like it I buy it!  Runs great too!