Re: NNG-Denver & Rio Grande RR

guymonmd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't know the status of Bob Shank's operation.
> I don't think many rode it.   I know Bob sunk lots
> of money into the planned operation, only to have
> Creede quash it a few years back.  I think Bob op-
> erated the rail vehicle himself, at least sometimes.
> I wish him well in what ever he decides to do.


Bob's brother Don was running the Silver Streak when I chased, rode and chased in mid-September of '09, Guy -

The ride along the Rio Grande is very enjoyable and the scenery is spectacular, but without the extra attraction of riding behind a steam locomotive there's not so much incentive to park your car and ride the train when you can drive the highway that's right alongside.  I took this shot from the shoulder of the road just a couple of miles north of South Fork:


There are several side roads along the way that give easy access to the tracks – even a couple of bridges over the river in places where the tracks are on the other side:


After riding the mid-day train, I chased in the afternoon:


Although the tracks extended another mile or two to the outskirts of Creede, the Silver Streak stopped for a few minutes near the center of this long bridge:


. . . and then headed back to South Fork:


Knowing I was a railfan, while riding the earlier train Don invited me to park my car and join the afternoon passengers for a special tour of the depot at Wagon Wheel Gap, which is now a private residence.  I much appreciated Don Shank's hospitality, and am saddened to learn that their little railroad is no longer operating.

- Russ

p.s. I heard that mayor and city council railroaded the D&RG out of Creede, due to their fear that "tourist trains will bring in only bubble-gum chewers and buyers of rubber tomahawks".  I guess they never looked at the demographics of the passengers on the D&S or C&TS.  Or maybe the mayor had cornered the market on bubble gum and genuine made-in-Bangladesh Indian tomahawks and was afraid clandestine shipments on the D&RG would break her monopoly . . .    



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/2018 12:56PM by Russo Loco.