NNG - Getting high with your lady friend

This lady has not only gotten high on 2-8-0 217, but she has also arrived at the highest point reached by Southern Pacific - Russia, New Mexico, on SP's Cloudcroft branch. Actually at this time, between 1922 and 1924, the railroad and engine belonged to the El Paso & Southwestern Railroad, which would be acquired by the Southern Pacific in October, 1924. The engine was built in 1902 for the Arizona & New Mexico Ry for service between Lordsburg and Morenci and would soon be renumbered SP 2510. To reach Russia the engine has climbed 4,670 feet from Alamogordo to arrive at an elevation of 9,096 feet. The final climb to stack level might have been frowned upon in today's safety culture and her friend would likely be wearing a blaze green safety vest. Well, it WAS nearly 100 years ago.