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(RRAdventures) - Escape the DNC

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, November 5, 2010 9:36 PM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Tonight I bring you a very short Video Clip taken at Windy Point. Here in January 1936, a train with two Steam Engines derails due to a snowdrift and they went over the edge. A temporary grade was built to retrieve them both and this grade can still be seen from this point along the road as you look over the edge below.

watch?v=v1JKEYWzTbI

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, November 6, 2010 10:11 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

As we continue to head down grade, we reach a point where folks of today's Auto Tour as well as when the train ran here that folks get a great view of Mt Silverheels across that valley.



Sadly, many of the Auto Tour signs were missing when we look this ride so we missed Auto Tour #6 and at the time we didn't have GPS to help us. With Google Earth, Auto Tour #6 would be at ~ 39°21'36.90"N / 105°56'12.69"W that I hope to get back too.

Why, well this stop is was know as "A Curve Preserved" as the auto road is a bit above grade and the RR grade and cut still exists just over the cliff. Someone else did find this spot and has a online photo that shows why we as RR fans would want to stop a take some photographs...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, November 6, 2010 10:54 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Our next stop is where Peabody Spur once was. This Spur headed up to the NW in the shadow of Mt. Silverheels to server the mining in this area. Turning the camera in the other direction you can see the grade we just traveled down to this point.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, November 7, 2010 2:17 PM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

As we make the turn we pass by Robert's Cabin completing our trip over Boreas Pass nearly completely on the roadbed once used by the Colorado and Southern Railroad.



From here we head into Como, CO. Did I just say COMO!!!!!!! Cool Cool Cool

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, November 8, 2010 8:51 AM
Day#2 (8/24) - COMO

Our next stop is at Como, CO which was once a booming railroad junction. There is very little left of it today but there are three major structures still standing. The first of these three is the Depot itself that I took several photographs of from various angles before time catches up to this wooden structure. I sure hope they can find a way to keep this building from falling over...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, November 8, 2010 8:21 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - COMO

Here is a few more angles that I grab as well as a shot of a few other items near by...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 8:13 AM

Day#2 (8/24) - COMO

At the peak of railroads in this area, COMO had a large Roundhouse, a Depot, Saloons, Shops, Tenements, and a 43-Room Pacific Hotel. The original hotel burned down in 1896 and was replaced by the one still standing today. The large Roundhouse also fell victim to a fire in 1935 leveling just the Stone section that still stand today.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 8:33 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - COMO

Time to explore the outside of the Roundhouse!!!!!!!

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:50 AM

Day#2 (8/24) - COMO

We took a few more shots before heading for our next destination but our last shot helps you see visually where all the buildings are related to each other.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 3:49 PM

Day#2 (8/24) - Jefferson

Our next stop was for a bite to eat and what better place then at the old DSP&P Depot in Jefferson.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:48 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Buena Vista

Next stop will be in Buena Vista where we stop for shots of this Denver, South Park and Pacific / Denver, Leadville, and Gunnison Depot. Can you also spot what else we found here...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, November 11, 2010 8:03 AM

Day#2 (8/24) - Buena Vista

It might have been hard to spot but there is also a Caboose on display here as well; Colorado Midland #425

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, November 11, 2010 7:39 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Buena Vista

Now when we went behind Colorado Midland #425 to get another angle we had a bit of a surprise, it shows CB&Q #14634.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, November 12, 2010 4:01 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Princeton

As we now travel down the road we take a route along D&RGW tracks that we understood would soon be abandon and we came across this bridge that I stopped briefly to photograph. I always try to think about modelers and what angles might be useful and here I thought a distant shot might be also useful; it kind of puts the area into perspective with the bridge.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, November 12, 2010 8:36 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Balltown

We continue down the road and stop to photograph another bridge that still has "Rio Grande" markings on it. This too is along the same route that understood would soon be abandon.


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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, November 13, 2010 2:07 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Leadville

Finally we reach Leadville and I stop to take a few new shots of the depot. You can still somewhat see the name on the depot but it's nearly gone...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, November 14, 2010 10:18 AM
Day#2 (8/24) - Tennessee Pass

Lisa and I next head for Tennessee Pass to visit the 10th Mountain Division Memorial, the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate), as well as others on the Roll of Honor.

From there we stopped to get a few shots of the D&RGW Tunnel Portal near by...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, November 14, 2010 10:56 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Minturn

Our next stop is in Minturn where we track down the D&RGW Depot

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, November 15, 2010 8:42 AM

Day#2 (8/24) - Climax

Our final RR stop of that day will be at Climax where we take a few shots on the small railroad equipment that once operated here deep underground.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, November 15, 2010 8:21 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Climax

We took one final photograph here of a sign talking about the Railroad History of a era of days gone by...



End of Day #2
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 8:15 AM

Day#3 (8/25) - Red Cliff Mining Area

Day 3 begins and ends in Leadville, Colorado at 10,152 feet. We start off the morning traveling back towards Red Cliff that we passed on our way to Minturn the day before. Near this area the D&RGW track dropped deep into a canyon that begins in Red Cliff. We saw no way to stay within the canyon except by train or by river. A few miles down the highway we found a great little turn off that over looked Eagle Mine and the track below.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 8:13 PM
Day#3 (8/25) - Leadville, Colorado and Southern

We travel back to Leadville to play tourist around town and have lunch. Our afternoon plans are the true highlight of the day, ride on the Leadville, Colorado and Southern.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 9:26 PM
Day#3 (8/25) - Leadville, Colorado and Southern

We arrive early to pick up our tickets and take a few shots of Colorado and Southern Steam Engine #641 while the parking lot is mostly empty.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 9:19 PM
Day#3 (8/25) - Leadville, Colorado and Southern

Here are a couple more shots of C&S#641...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, November 20, 2010 6:38 PM

Here comes the train!!!!!!!

watch?v= B9S6VdRhes

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, November 21, 2010 6:32 PM

Day#3 (8/25) - Leadville, Colorado and Southern


While I was videotaping the train, Lisa was busy taking several shots of the engine as it approached her position.  Here is what I think was the best of the shots...

 

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 9:37 PM
Day#3 (8/25) - Leadville, Colorado and Southern

Well, you know I won't pass up an opportunity to update my photo collection of depots!

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 9:24 PM

Day#3 (8/25) - Leadville, Colorado and Southern

 St. Vincent's Hospital (Built 1901)

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 9:41 PM

Roster Shots

As with many tourist trains what they have tends to be from various railways and as in this case of unknown origin. Here are a few roster shots of the a Boxcar now turned into the Gift Shop / Snack Car as well as the caboose; none that have any markings beyond the LC&S lettering.

 

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, December 10, 2010 9:53 PM

Engine #1714

... and lets not forget to get a few shots of our host before we start our ride!!!!!!!

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