I had the good fortune recently to be at two sacred places in railway preservation within 10 days time. I was in Cass, W.Va., at the preserved logging railroad, and the following week found me in Chama, N.M., on the remnant of the Rio Grande’s San Juan extension. The juxtaposition of these two visits reminded me that some places on the railroad seem to never change while others may be fleeting.
At Cass Scenic Railroad, I was leading Trains first photo charter when we had the opportunity for a stop at Gum Curve, high on a hillside. This beautiful spot, where the train pops out of the forest and into a pasture, has grown up quite a bit since I first started coming here 40 years ago. Trees that were only saplings are now full grown, and I saw little evidence of cows. The well-photographed curve still offers a handsome angle for photographing trains here, but it is remarkably different.
At the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic a few days later, I set up near the Jukes Tree, just outside Chama, N.M., where a tall Ponderosa Pine frames eastbound trains. It takes its name from Fred Jukes, a Rio Grande employee and photographer who made this location famous in the early 20th century. The tree is still healthy, and in the morning, the sun is just right to capture a train coming off the Chama River bridge and starting its climb to the summit of Cumbres Pass. The deer and the fans are obviously keeping the overlooking hillside perch groomed for the benefit of many. I caught the student train leaving town there, and I was glad to see this spot has changed little, if at all.
Enjoy these and other landmark locations on the railroad: They may stay the same, or they may change. You just never know.
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