Yeah but the first love is always the sweetest
| June 15, 2001 03:24PM |
I was waiting for someone to call me on my provincialism. Mea culpa. Western North Carolina and the Alleganies are fine places and I've spent enjoyable times there. And there's no denying that had not Palmer met up with Robert Fairle in north Wales, the San Juan extension might not have even been financially feasible.
But I can't help it. Riding the Silverton on a family vacation as a kid back in 1963 forever melded narrow gauge with the southern Rockies for me. It was imprinted on my brain. Sort of like grits for breakfast are for others. [That was a shameful Yankee-centric remark and I apologize to you & Trent
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Quintessential narrow gauge requires altitude and western landscape. It's at its best above 9,000'. [Hell, I'm at my best above 9,000' anywhere in the San Juans.]
Besides, those beautiful, restored Festiniog trains look a little too - how do I say this - well, too continental. Butch Cassidy would've felt guilty about robbing one.
Sarducci
But I can't help it. Riding the Silverton on a family vacation as a kid back in 1963 forever melded narrow gauge with the southern Rockies for me. It was imprinted on my brain. Sort of like grits for breakfast are for others. [That was a shameful Yankee-centric remark and I apologize to you & Trent
" />]Quintessential narrow gauge requires altitude and western landscape. It's at its best above 9,000'. [Hell, I'm at my best above 9,000' anywhere in the San Juans.]
Besides, those beautiful, restored Festiniog trains look a little too - how do I say this - well, too continental. Butch Cassidy would've felt guilty about robbing one.
Sarducci
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.