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(RRAdventures) - Escape the DNC

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  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Centennial, CO
  • 3,218 posts
Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 8:27 PM
  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, December 23, 2010 4:25 PM
  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, December 26, 2010 1:39 PM
  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Centennial, CO
  • 3,218 posts
Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, December 27, 2010 2:11 PM
  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 8:43 PM

 

Leadville, Colorado and Southern

While on the train, Lisa took a few shots while I was taking video. Here are her shots of the Spreader with various BN Cabooses, The Roundhouse with Engine #1918, the French Gulch Water Tank, and she also caught me taking video from just behind Engine #1714.

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, December 30, 2010 4:47 PM

It's now Day#4 of our trip...

 

We start the day NW of Leadville by taking a drive around Turquoise Lake. We look several small hikes as well as stop at the Charles H Boustead Tunnel (Water) and the Sugar Loaf Dam. We then swing by the Leadville National Fish Hatchery.

We later head SW and drive over Independence Pass (12,095 ft.) and also stop at what's left of the old ghost town.

Not to fear, our next stop is very much RR related as we head to Basalt. Here we photograph the Colorado Midland Depot

 

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  • Member since
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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, December 30, 2010 4:48 PM

Basalt, CO

Also here is Colorado and Southern Caboose #1050 and they have a nice historical sign outside that talks about it's history and how/when it came to rest here...

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, December 30, 2010 6:40 PM

 

Rio Grande Trail

As we drive up the highway we noticed something on a side road; track? Now we understand all that should have been gone so we doubled back to find the side road and sure enough there it was. A small section of the Rio Grande Trail still was a section of track.



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  • Member since
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, January 7, 2011 10:54 PM

Glenwood Springs

 

At the end of the day we reach Glenwood Springs and when we drove towards our hotel I noticed the UP yard was close by and something else; so after dinner we drop over there. What I initially spotted was UP X-67...

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, January 7, 2011 10:55 PM

Glenwood Springs

 

I also found UP Burro BC-25 along with D&RGW #X-22244 sitting right behind UP #X-67...

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, January 7, 2011 10:57 PM

Glenwood Springs

 

... and luck would have it, a UP Coal Train was pulling into the yard so flip my little Point-n-Shot to Video mode and watch it nearly roll past me before it stopped.

watch?v=JComf2Krbm0

  • Member since
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, January 8, 2011 4:07 PM

Day #5

 

We start out on this day by going up the side of the mountain to tour the "Glenwood Springs Caverns Adventure Park" which I would find out was now owned by a guy I went to collage with. During the tour it opens up on the side of the cliff and looking down we caught a Coal Train passing through Glenwood Canyon.

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, January 8, 2011 4:08 PM

Glenwood Springs, CO - D&RGW Depot / Amtrak

After the tour we walked to downtown Glenwood Springs to take a few photographs; especially of the Depot and the Spa. Our hotel was on the other side of the river so our walk took it us over a bridge and the tracks so I took advantage of the angle before heading down to the depot itself for more shots...

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, January 8, 2011 4:10 PM

Glenwood Springs, CO - D&RGW Depot / Amtrak

After getting shots from track side, we head around to the other side. Found a nice sign also about the station that was behind glass that overly reflective so I had to take the shot from a steep angle.

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, January 9, 2011 6:26 PM

Glenwood Springs, CO - D&RGW Depot / Amtrak

The only thing left was to go inside and get a few shots, the shop and other areas were closed so all I could get was a shot though the window. We also learned that both the East and West bound Amtrak trains are late; surprise-surprise!

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, January 9, 2011 6:29 PM

VIDEO: Glenwood Springs from Above

Now keep in mind, I had my Video Camcorder with me when we went up to the "Glenwood Springs Caverns Adventure Park" so I too got some interesting video clips of the UP Yard / Tracks from high above as well!!!!!!!

watch?v=Twj MSjO 9o

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 9:18 PM

California Zephyr Train #5 (West Bound)

Well, wouldn't you know it; the West Bound Amtrak shows up and we could barely get to a stopping point to catch some shots. Lisa takes several shots as it passes our location in hopes to catch each Engine/Car as it pass her. Not bad given the obstacles in her line of sight as I did find at least one shot of every car to post...

In this sequence, she catches Road Diesel GE P42DC #44 & #45 as well as Heritage Baggage Car #1756...

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 9:20 PM

California Zephyr Train #5 (West Bound)

In this next sequence, she catches Transition Sleeper #39027, Sleeping Car #32031, #32074, and Sightseer Lounge #33012...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 9:23 PM

California Zephyr Train #5 (West Bound)

Lastly she catches Superliner Coach #34137, #34001, and #34072.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, January 13, 2011 8:51 PM

California Zephyr Train #6 (East Bound)

After get our shots of Amtrak Train #5 we continue our drive further down the canyon to take more canyon shots. Wouldn't you know it again, we spot the East Bound and we do our best to catch it.

In this sequence, Lisa catches Road Diesel GE P42DC #1 & #171 as well as Heritage Baggage Car #1751...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, January 13, 2011 8:53 PM

California Zephyr Train #6 (East Bound)

In this next sequence, she catches Transition Sleeper #39015, Sleeping Car #32021 & #32012, and Dining Car #38030...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, January 13, 2011 8:54 PM

California Zephyr Train #6 (East Bound)

Lastly she catches Sightseer Lounge #33042, Superliner Coach #34091, Snack Coach #35006, and Superliner Coach/Baggage #31040.

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, January 13, 2011 8:57 PM

Video

Now while Lisa was taking shots of both these trains as they passed our location, I had my camcorder going as well...

watch?v= N5ESvrNzJo

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, January 15, 2011 6:51 PM

 

Glenwood Canyon - MOW Equipment

After reaching the east end of Glenwood Canyon we turned around to drive back to Glenwood Springs. Along the way we saw a UP Truck on the highway and then we caught a crew on the tracks.

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Remember in my previous blog "Here is just a teaser of what we found but not the only thing", that other piece we found operating along with others...

 

Well, it was time to get a Lead Foot and get to the next turn-off so we could get ahead of it for better photos!!!!!!!

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, January 15, 2011 6:54 PM

Glenwood Canyon - MOW Equipment

Once we reach a good spot we found that a Hi-Rail Pick-Up was also in the group. Lisa took a ton of shots of "UP BURRO BC-25" and "D&RGW X-22244" as they pass us by

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, January 15, 2011 6:56 PM

Glenwood Canyon - MOW Equipment

Bringing up the rear was UP #6_303 (couldn't read the 2nd number)...

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While Lisa was taking stills, I had the video camera going!!!!!!!

watch?v=DoGHjMcfLfw

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, January 16, 2011 6:46 PM

Day #6 - Kremmling, Colorado

On this day, it was originally all about a scenic drive. We started the day at Rifle Cap Falls and explored some of the shallow caves there too. We now hop onto County Road 8 for a nice drive through the mountains stopping for a picnic at the Ripple Creek Overlook. Nothing like having lunch and listen to the Elk "Bugle" in the valley below. We resume our drive passing over Ripple Creek Pass (10,343 ft.) and stop for a photo stop as we cross over Dunckley Pass (9,763 ft.) eventually coming out at Yampa, CO. At this point we detour as we learned just 2 days before we left that the Kremmling Depot is scheduled to be moved so we decided to swing by and get a few shots. This takes us over Gore Pass (9,527 ft) and the cars transmission is starting to say enough.

Well, wouldn't you know it, when we reached Kremmling our view got blocked a bit to get a nice clean shot of the depot.

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Afterwards we head for Steamboat Springs for the night but to get there we must cross over Muddy Pass (8,710 ft.) and Rabbit Ears Pass (9,426 ft.); can you hear the car grown...
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, January 17, 2011 7:05 PM

Day #7

New day and a new set of adventures. We start off this day at Fish Creek Falls which we hike to both the top and the bottom of the falls.

From hear we head up to Hahn's Peak Lake which is where I used to go fishing with my Grandfather, Father, and Brother. I had not been there in untold years but could still remember the exact spot and use to toss in my line and catch fish. Brought a tear or two of pure happiness.

We return to Steamboat Springs to photograph the D&RGW Depot...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, January 17, 2011 7:06 PM

Steamboat, CO

I was able to get shots from several angles of the depot as well as other items near by...

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, January 17, 2011 7:08 PM

Rio Grande #01502

We also found a caboose sitting near by...

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