-E-C-MillsMike: Ahh I didnt think about crossing regulations, hmm. Also, looking at the airial view, the crossing at that point would be real close to where the D&S parks the engines while in town. Thanks for the info.
Yeah, and there's not much alternative to a crossing there and the complications it would entail. They can't go to the east, closer to the river, by crossing by turning to cross the D&S tracks on the north end of the depot. Still a crossing and they'd be too much in the floodplain, I suspect, for comfort. They can't circle out to the westside of town, as that's all uphill and certainly nowhere near the prototype ROWs. So the crossing just south of the "in town" spurs is always going to be the goal, if possible at all. I'm failrly certain it will eventually come to pass, but decades from now when the new SNRR is on solid ground with most other things.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike: Ahh I didnt think about crossing regulations, hmm. Also, looking at the airial view, the crossing at that point would be real close to where the D&S parks the engines while in town. Thanks for the info.
NP: Looks like the narrow gauge bug has bitten! Mountains; steam; there is just some kind of charm in mountain railroading, ...
mlehman, you have a PM from me.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
NP2626 Thank you guys that is some really interesting information you've provided. My love for narrow gauge is peaking and I'm almost considering selling off my Standarg Gage equipment tearing down my present layout and starting over with a small narrow gage modular layout that could be hauled from my basement, should the need arise. I also wonder about the wisdom of doing all that at the age of 64!
Thank you guys that is some really interesting information you've provided. My love for narrow gauge is peaking and I'm almost considering selling off my Standarg Gage equipment tearing down my present layout and starting over with a small narrow gage modular layout that could be hauled from my basement, should the need arise. I also wonder about the wisdom of doing all that at the age of 64!
Rich
Alton Junction
-E-C-Mills I cant quite figure out what exactly they plan regarding the shop and the new tracks they want to lay up to Howardsville. Do you know if they will follow cement street up from the shop? The website says they plan on a new station and shop at start of new tracks (northeast of town). If the shop is disconnected, seems like a major pain...
I cant quite figure out what exactly they plan regarding the shop and the new tracks they want to lay up to Howardsville. Do you know if they will follow cement street up from the shop? The website says they plan on a new station and shop at start of new tracks (northeast of town). If the shop is disconnected, seems like a major pain...
There's a complex story there and I'm not sure we even have all of it yet. Part of the reason is that they were working on this when the owner of the D&S, Mr. Bradshaw, died about a year ago.
The issue with connecting the shop to the SN right of way would be the need to cross the D&S. Doing that -- a crossing at grade between two different RRs -- apparrently would invoke all kinds of federal requirements that would burden both RRs. Attractive as such a scene could be to fans and tourists, for now it's just easier to not mix the two RRs in that way. A grade separated crossing just wouldn't be right in my mind, but if there's no other solution and the money was somehow there, I could see the SN lowering its grade to pass under the D&S.
For now, the SN starts near Fritz's print shop and property up by the old powerplant. The county board has already granted a 99-year lease on at least the first part of the old ROW. There has been building, some earthmoving connected to mine reclamation, and some utility and other encroachment, as no one figured the RR would ever need the ROW back. Most of this is in Silverton or as you near it. Once further out of town, the grade is mostly still usuable -- I've driven much of it.
They're hoping to have the first mile-and-a-half up and running in the near future, possibly using a 3' gauge railcar built by a local resident who owns a model RR kit company, Anvil Mountain Models (good stuff!).
Yeah, 2011 imagery won't show it. They just started laying track a few weeks ago. While the SN enginehouse houses the SN caboose #1005 and the Durango Historical Society's Rio Grande 2-8-0 #315, the track is being laid on the northeast edge of town near the old powerplant toward Eureka. There are some pics on Fritz Klinke's pic page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/53177163@N00/with/15523789012
The shops for the Silverton Northern are near the D&S station at Silverton. Last I was there a month or so ago, the shop has been totally rebuilt and looks great. There was a totally rebuilt 4 wheel bobber caboose in front, very nice and brand new looking. I have pics here somewhere (looking around lost!). But yes, they are trying to rebuild it:
http://www.silvertonnorthern.com/
http://www.sanjuancountyhistoricalsociety.org/silverton-northern-railroad.html
Regards,
Eric
Jimmy_Braum Theyre rebuilding the Silverton northern!
Theyre rebuilding the Silverton northern!
Who has more facts about this? I should think the tracks would link with the Durango and Silverton; but, where will they start laying track and what will be the destination for the Silverton Northern work being done?
richhotrainI can't get past this photo. It makes my hands sweat. What if the horse were to get spooked? Suppose there is a rock slide up ahead? How do you turn that buggy around? Yikes. This photo gives me nightmares. Rich
Oh yeah! Think that's bad, Rich? If you take the trail out of Ouray to the west to Camp Bird, the trail is actually cut into the side of the gulch, totally overhanging. Then there's the old mine building teetering above the trail between St. Elmo and Hancock on the east side approach to Alpine Tunnel. Looks like it will cut loose any second, but it's been that way since I first started off-roading in CO in the mid-70s. On the west side are the Palisades. First time we went up there, I stopped on the trail because it was completely engulfed in the clouds for some time and I wanted to peek over the edge to see what I could see. Looked down...then the clouds parted briefly so that I could see the valley floor far, far below...then it was gone...very spooky.
You have to drive watching the road. The same first trip, a college buddy of mine who was along was just freaking out as we went across Engineer Pass, up above Animas Forks. We'd been driving all week in CO and he should've been used to things by now. We were going east to west across it, so I was on the inside of what is a long shelf road far above the treeline, he was on the outside. I was watching the road, no problem. It wasn't until years later when I came back across Engineer the opposite side that the view, err, became more obvious...that's why you watch the road.
But don't feel bad, Rich. I've got another friend, a now-retired political science professor. He and his wife took Highway 550 and he, well, wasn't quite ready for that. It end up with him getting in the floorboards of the car so he couldn't see out. So if you're floorboard-hugging scared, you're not the only one.
I'll be glad to hand out directions and advice on the best E-ticket rides American highways can offer. Yes, most of these roads aren't even technically "off road" as that's illegal on a lot of ground. They're actually county roads, which see "regular maintenance" such as can be accomplished with bulldozer, grader, and the occassional startegically placed culvert. You can easily travel the same roads that brought the prospectors and then, in some case, the railroad.
I've been on the Silverton twice-'97 and 02. Bothtimes I was with my dad, and got one of the - 480 seriEs. I've been on the chama one as well. I loved both. I've been to cass,Durango,Chama,Golden,steamtown,Orbisonia,Washingtonpatrolleymuseu
Baltimore, and a few others. But I want to eventually go back to colorado
,
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
richhotrain BATMAN mobilman44 Sadly, I didn't get any pics cause I was too busy, and my co-pilot was too scared............. It's okay MM44. I was right behind you and got some pic's of you and the wife. In all seriousness, I can't wait to start exploring more of North America and traveling in general. I have been in more States than I haven't and I really like hearing about trips like these. It helps with the planning. I can't get past this photo. It makes my hands sweat. What if the horse were to get spooked? Suppose there is a rock slide up ahead? How do you turn that buggy around? Yikes. This photo gives me nightmares. Rich
BATMAN mobilman44 Sadly, I didn't get any pics cause I was too busy, and my co-pilot was too scared............. It's okay MM44. I was right behind you and got some pic's of you and the wife. In all seriousness, I can't wait to start exploring more of North America and traveling in general. I have been in more States than I haven't and I really like hearing about trips like these. It helps with the planning.
mobilman44 Sadly, I didn't get any pics cause I was too busy, and my co-pilot was too scared.............
It's okay MM44. I was right behind you and got some pic's of you and the wife.
In all seriousness, I can't wait to start exploring more of North America and traveling in general. I have been in more States than I haven't and I really like hearing about trips like these. It helps with the planning.
I can't get past this photo. It makes my hands sweat.
What if the horse were to get spooked?
Suppose there is a rock slide up ahead?
How do you turn that buggy around?
Yikes.
This photo gives me nightmares.
Rich, although the Million Dollar Highway is wide enough now for two buses to pass each other, this is how the road is now! There are no guard rails and it's a long ways down to the Uncompahgre River! Some people on the bus needed to change seats with their travel companions as they lost interest in their window seats during this part of the trip! We were seated towards the cliff side of the road, I didn't feel this helped much!
Yankee Flyer, your top photo is as dramatic a picture as you can get on the D&S! It looks like it is almost 400 feet straight down to the Animas River from that car step! I asked the conductor about a grade up to the Highline while heading south from Silverton to Durango. He confirmed that the train does climb from the last bridge crossing the Animas River before the Highline, going southbound. This was the only time I heard #486 working on the trip.
I have spent quite a bit of time in Northwestern Wyoming near Cody & Yellowstone and love that area. We drove through the Wind River Canyon last fall and over Raton Pass from Colorado into New Mexico. I spent a week in Snow Mass Skiing; but, this trip was the most exploring of Colorado and New Mexico I have ever done and I have to say I love these states, too, now! I have also spent some time in the Alps in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and I think the San Juans are the USA's Alps and I want to spend more time there, God willing!
This is fun.
Guess I will through in my two cents.
My wife and I have driven out west quite a few times. This time we went through Colorado springs and down to Dorango. We took the trip to Silverton and back. we drove north thorough Ouray and up to George Town loop. absolutely one of the best trips we have ever taken. Enjoy
Lee
#481 on the way to Silverton. Watch that second step, it's a long one.
#481 at silverton.
Silver car on the way up.
They had a mud slide short time earlyer.
-E-C-Mills NP2626 We visited Mesa Verde and saw a few of the Ancestral Puebloan dwellings there, visited Los Alamos National laboratory, Santa Fe N.M., Ancestral Puebloan ruins at Aztec New Mexico and the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, among many other things we did. Hey you were in Aztec! And didnt come by to say Hi! One time we went to the Aztec Ruins in December when there was a luminaria display set up. It was real beutiful with a little light snow and all the flickering candle light along the walls and windows.
NP2626 We visited Mesa Verde and saw a few of the Ancestral Puebloan dwellings there, visited Los Alamos National laboratory, Santa Fe N.M., Ancestral Puebloan ruins at Aztec New Mexico and the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, among many other things we did.
We visited Mesa Verde and saw a few of the Ancestral Puebloan dwellings there, visited Los Alamos National laboratory, Santa Fe N.M., Ancestral Puebloan ruins at Aztec New Mexico and the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, among many other things we did.
Hey you were in Aztec! And didnt come by to say Hi!
One time we went to the Aztec Ruins in December when there was a luminaria display set up. It was real beutiful with a little light snow and all the flickering candle light along the walls and windows.
Darn, and that would have been fun for me! I don't know what the other 27 people on the bus would have done while we talked trains; but, it would have been fun! Maybe next time, when I drive to South Westerm Colorado we can meet-up.
Related to the old D&RGW locos and now what remains on the CT&S and the D&S. They never really ran any steam other than mikes as the older consols couldn't pull the bigger traffic without multi-heading. Some snow plow relief trans in the early 1900's were quintenary headed consols! All the C-class consols were cool. Only about 2 remain working though, I think. My favorite is the C-25 which was their only C-25 and was, I think, their only outside frame consol obtained from another abandoned N.G.road. Naturally, any brass C-25 in any modeling scale is now a great rarity, yet the old $39.95 die-cast MDC HOn3 consol kit sold in quantity for some time was a C-25.
The only NG specific, factory ordered and delivered mikes were the K-27 and K-28 which were the most beautiful of all the mikes on the D&RGW. They were the only ones that got and retained loving nicknames. K-27 "mudhen" and the K-28 "sports model". You would be hard pressed to find a more lovable and lovely NG loco than the K-28 with its distinctive, off- center, smokebox mounted air-pump.
The other two mike class locos, the K-36 and K-37, are larger and a bit more powerful. The K-36 is a NG loco but just looks too standard gauge, yet has some personality to it. The k-37 is just a full size standard gauge loco that was converted to NG. It was a work horse, of course, but ugh....... All the K- class mikes used on the D&RGW are outside frame and that is their true charm. Soon all the K-series and, that lone C-19 consol will be made in profusion by Blackstone. For those looking to enter the NG MR circle, this will be your chance to get fine locos without undue searching out of old brass in less than runable condition at high prices.
I am planning a trip back to Colorado and exploring the route along the San Miquel river from Placerville to Paradox where my free lance road would have been. I'll stop and chat with the locals in Nautrita and Nucla. Next, I'll tool up to the remediated Uravan, as well.
While in Colorado, I hope to ride both N.G. roads. and hopefully pet the two k-28's, which may not be in full service. I haven't heard much about them lately. Restoration? Static Museum pieces? I hope not.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
Its nice to hear all the positives about our little part of planet earth. enjoy!
Brent's post reminded me about this excellent website by Mark Evans. If you can't be there in person, it's the next best thing:
http://www.narrowgauge.org/
mobilman44Sadly, I didn't get any pics cause I was too busy, and my co-pilot was too scared.............
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Ulrich,
Yes, I've bumped into German's several times in Colorado on my travels. Talked with a very interesting German fellow and his son the last D&S parlor car I rode, an example of the fascinating folks you get to know if you upgrade your ticket for that. Another time, I was four-wheeling over one of the more scenic passes with my brother and some friends and had a long chat with a German on his bike up there (11,000+ feet high).
Of course, this was all in English. I had a working command of German when I was young, as I also had the opportunity at Uncle Sam's expense to live there during my high school years when dad was stationed there.
NP2626 - that trip from Durango to Silverton kindled my interest in narrow gauge model railroading. I remember how impressed I was by those K-36´s being bigger than the standard gauge locos I was used to from my country!
As the original poster of this thread, I have no problem with whatever meandering direction it may take. I spent 2 years in Germany (Deutschland) on the Government plan and look back with the fondest of memories of your wonderful country Sir Madog! How wonderful it was to return there, even if it was only for a few days last summer and am considering a tour next fall to southern Germany (where I was stationed).
I may have visited the Grand Canyon when very young and so, do not remember doing so. However, the wife and I spent two wonderful days there last fall and have to say seeing this wonderful place rates as one of the highest on my bucket list and to anyone who hasn’t seen it, I have to say you must, as for certain, I will be returning! There are things to do and places to see in our own states here in the U.S. that never seem to get done.
Hi again,
When I rode the C&Trr, we stayed in Chama a couple miles from the loco facilities. As Mike said, they were pretty open and you could wander thru them and actually walk on tracks and touch the ancient cars.
The ride was a real "go back in time" event, and when going up grades you felt the loco(s) with their "I think I can" chuffing.
Riding the D&S was more a touristry thing, with the scenery second to none.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Sir Madog I have taken the ride from Durango to Silverton and back 40 years ago, when the line was still owned and operated by the D&RGW. This ride was the absolute highlight of my farewell sightseeing trip through most of the western states at the end of my year as an exchange student on Bainbridge Island, WA. This trip took me down the coast of Washington State and Oregon, following US Highway 101 all the way into Northern California, down to Nevada, through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and back to my "home for a year". Even after 40 years, I still remember each day of it. What an adventure for a barely 18 year old with a driver´s license still wet from the printing! Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, the lights of Reno and Las Vegas and then - Durango to Silverton - breathtaking! Do you folks know in how beautiful a country you live?
I have taken the ride from Durango to Silverton and back 40 years ago, when the line was still owned and operated by the D&RGW. This ride was the absolute highlight of my farewell sightseeing trip through most of the western states at the end of my year as an exchange student on Bainbridge Island, WA.
This trip took me down the coast of Washington State and Oregon, following US Highway 101 all the way into Northern California, down to Nevada, through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and back to my "home for a year". Even after 40 years, I still remember each day of it. What an adventure for a barely 18 year old with a driver´s license still wet from the printing! Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, the lights of Reno and Las Vegas and then - Durango to Silverton - breathtaking!
Do you folks know in how beautiful a country you live?
The United States is a beautiful country, and we have a lot of different sights. Hawaii (the Big Island) has nine out of the eleven climate zones. The mountains of West Virgina are wonderful. There is the Grand Canyon (I have seen it from a plane, but not from the ground yet). California has excellent scenery. And probably the most pristine state, the last frontier, Alaska (have not been there yet).
I have been to Germany, and it is also a beautiful country. The natural beauty, and the ancient architecture is amazing.
Mike - I don´t want to hi-jack this thread, but now, being unable to travel for health and financial reasons, I live from the memories I have from those travels and tours which I was able to do in my younger years. For many years in the past century, Germans were known to be the #1 travellers, only recently overtaken by the Japanese and now the Chinese. Wherever you´d go, you´d bump into Germans. In the 1940´s all those travels were organized by "Adolf-Tours" and rather involuntary relocations, but the habit remained in more peaceful terms.
Although, back in 1974, travelling to the US was still an expensive venue, I met Germans also on that trail from Durango to Silverton. 4 years later, I went to Oahu, only to find out, that Waikiki Beach was populated by my countrymen and -women. How awful!
Sir MadogDo you folks know in how beautiful a country you live?
I think most of us have an idea about its breadth and beauty...all those cowboy movies, you know. But I think there are far too many who haven't really experienced it. I was fortunate, my dad was in the Air Force back then, we were station several places out West, and Mom and Dad both liked to see places and make sure we knew about them. I saw much of what you did but based out of Arizona and Texas. I'd sure like to get to see more of the Northwest, though my cloesest so far is Boise, Idaho. Gotta get to Portland to see my father-in-law's old command, the USS Blueback.
Part of the reason why more Americans aren't as familiar as they could be is that we just don't take vacations like the Europeans. A lot of time it's the finanicial pressures. I always took all of mine. There's even a parody commercial that's been running on Saturday Night Live about a childrens movement to get their parents to take vacation and take them somewhere, they're bored. At least I think it's a parody. It very well could be real.