Michael and John I was there via snowmobile. In 1991 I slogged around with 40 pounds of gear sinking here and there, and it was tough. In 1993 a group of us rented some snowmobiles and on the last day had them delivered to Apache Canyon Road(Above the crossing). One of the guys who at that time worked for Video Rails(George I think), and his brother were on one, and the other had my brother Randy and I. It was tough carrying all the gear and trying to hold on when Randy was driving. We actually were able to drive down, and cross a stream, and get almost within side of Cascade Trestle, but we get a little wet in one creek.
So fast-forward to 1997. Les Jarrett and I were teaming up on our 4th and final America By Rail video, and had a long stop-over in Chama to do the Rotary, and a couple days of special charters. We basically hired a guy with snowmobiles, for a reasonable rate, and in exchange for some advertising at the end of the video. We had arranged for him to meet me at the pull-off before Coxo Crossing. We shot the approach to Cresco, then headed for the crossing at Coxo. We then went down the railroad to around Hamilton's point. The problem being in there was that you could not shoot the train passing us, cause we would have no place to go. So, we did roughly 2-4 set-ups and when it started to get close we retreated. We shot before Coxo crossing, then went across the road and shot past the crossing(I think the crew took a break there). Got Windy point in the background along with 1000 other people.
Then we drove up toward the big curve. I think we shot one before this one, perhaps past the crossing where it was open. Now I still had that 40 pounds or more of gear, including a big 16 pound tripod, big video camera porte-brace case with the Betacam inside, still camera bag, bag with extra tapes(tapes lasted 30 minutes), and plenty of batteries. The guy with me who made the deal with me was driving one snowmobile, and I was on my own. What was nice is that he pulled a sled behind, with all my gear bungie-corded to the sled. He knew where to go for snow and I told him where I wanted to go to.
After the above shot we retreated back down toward the crossing, and we shot across the valley at the whole plowing drama along Windy Point. One guy was over on the opposite side of Coxo loop, and my guide couldn't figure out how he did it until he finally got it. But we were not about to try that one. After the Windy Point thing, I believe we retreated to Coxo and I drove up to Cumbres to get all the plowing up to the summit, flipping the chute for the water plug and section house, watering, plowing and so forth. Thats where day one ended.
After that we did day 2 and 3 starting at Apache Canyon, then drove up to above Tanglefoot near the end of Cumbres Siding. They had to stop at Tanglefoot to remove a tie or some such from the tracks. That day I believe they went to Los Pinos Tank. I may have been missing a day, but the last day was when we rode the train from Cumbres to Long Run, where the big boulder was squarely on the rails, ending the plowing for 1997. I think it was all 4 days, but without looking at the video I will have to defer to Earl who was in the OY.
Greg
