My wife and I just took a two week trip out West, We went to Cody Wyoming to visit a nephew and his family and then went down to Tucson Arizona to visit my sister (his mother). I had hoped to visit the Durango and Silverton and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad narrow gauge railroads on the way to Tucson. However, due to unexpected complications we got to late a start and both would have been closed by the time we'd have gotten there. I did see a lot of very interesting railroad places. We went over Raton Pass and we stayed over night in Gallup New Mexico next to the BMSF tracks and listened to very heavy rail traffic all night long.
I found a place on the New Mexico side of Raton Pass, where semaphores are still in use! I had thought I would never see this type of signalling system again. Actually, I can't say for sure that they are still in use, maybe they just haven't been replaced, yet. However, they looked to have been maintained, so I lean towards them still being used.
Also, in 1996, my family traveled out to Yellowstone via I 94. This was the same way we went this year. Last time I saw a dozen or so 40 foot steel Northern Pacific box cars used on farms and ranches in Eastern Montana as storage/farm buildings. This time, I could not find one that I could identify as N.P. cars although I did see a few old wooden box cars used as such.
It was a fun trip, I hope to go back next summer and visit the Colorado Narrow Gauge lines and maybe visit western Montana, Idaho and other mountain states.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Cody, huh?
I lived there for a few years when I was growing up. Last visited about seven years ago. I also still have relatives in the ara - several cousins.
I sure would like to get back again!
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
NP 2626,
I believe you're correct. Raton Pass is one of the few (perhaps the only?) places left with working semaphores. One reason is that BNSF has been trying to work out a deal with the various states that Amtrak's passenger service crosses to upgrade the signaling system to continue to operate Amtrak trains over the route. BNSF no longer uses it much, except as an emergency bypass for other lines that might be out of service. Either tha will happen or Raton will be shut down (mothballed from what I understand) and Amtrak trains will take alternative routes.
So enjoy it while it lasts. Raton Pass as it is now is on borrowed time, whatever decision is made.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Watchout! If you do go back and ride on the CAT or D&SNG you might catch the narrow gauge bug and it might turn out to be a far more costly trip than you imagined. I would be looking into buying narrow gauge fever insurance before I went back if I were you.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
NP2626I found a place on the New Mexico side of Raton Pass, where semaphores are still in use! I had thought I would never see this type of signalling system again. Actually, I can't say for sure that they are still in use, maybe they just haven't been replaced, yet. However, they looked to have been maintained, so I lean towards them still being used.
narrow gauge nuclearWatchout! If you do go back and ride on the CAT or D&SNG you might catch the narrow gauge bug and it might turn out to be a far more costly trip than you imagined.
Just got my newest Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association's Publication, "The Mainstreeter". Just so happens that in this issue they talk about the last N.P. Semaphore signal still in use at Laural Montana's yard. So there is at least one more Semaphore still in use.
I have always liked Narrow Gauge. However, I have no interest in starting over with Narrow Gage.
NP2626I have always liked Narrow Gauge. However, I have no interest in starting over with Narrow Gage.
That's OK. I'll pick up the slack for you in the narrowgauge section.
Glad to hear there are more semaphores still working. The Monon lost the last of theirs a few years back, well, actually CSX by then but you know what I mean.
NP2626 Just got my newest Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association's Publication, "The Mainstreeter". Just so happens that in this issue they talk about the last N.P. Semaphore signal still in use at Laural Montana's yard. So there is at least one more Semaphore still in use. I have always liked Narrow Gauge. However, I have no interest in starting over with Narrow Gage.
I was just in Laurel not too long ago and I saw that the semaphore had been taken down. It was kinda sad to see it go since they built a couple extra tracks in the yard and also took down the searchlight signals that were there too. Now they are using some smaller dwarf-like signals, but the mast for the semaphore is still there.
I Hate to burst your bubble, but sadly, it's gone now
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