Re: June 1968 - no spark arrestors - and none in August, either ... 
| May 23, 2012 04:49PM |
|
Greg Scholl Wrote:
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> ... What is different today versus the land
> between 1880 and 1968 when the railroad
> ran as [the] D&RGW??
Hi Greg et al -
1. We(a)ther due to human activity or not, the climate in Archuleta, Conejos and Rio Arriba counties is somewhat warmer and drier than in 1968.
2. Partially due to the above, pine bark beetles are far more numerous than they were in 1968, resulting in a large number of highly flammable dead trees in the area.
3. The C&TS is not a privately-owned freight operation, but a publicly owned and government-dependent tourist railway which also caters to occasional, marginally profitable railfan photo charters. As Earl Knoob pointed out in his excellent post at [ngdiscussion.net], the C&TS is much more susceptible to the whims of government "experts" and the winds of politics than was the D&RG(W) in the 1880-1968 period.
The following photos from August 28, 1968 have been posted before, but IMHO these new versions are a bit better; the damp locomotives and slippery roof-walks clearly illustrate why spark arrestors were not needed that afternoon:
The reddish-brown color of several dozen beetle-killed trees is easily seen behind the train in this photo taken forty years later and only about five miles east of the two above:
*****
IMHO, our glass is not half-empty - it is ninety percent full - and quibbling over temporary and reversible measures being taken to ensure a successful season is childish. If you really want to help preserve the historic environment of the C&TS, contribute to The Friends project of your choice or - even better - come to Antonito or Chama and become part of a work-session team!!
(See [ngdiscussion.net]).
- El Curmudgeono y Instagatador Viejo y Verde de la Costa del Oro
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2012 12:30PM by Russo Loco.
========================================
> ... What is different today versus the land
> between 1880 and 1968 when the railroad
> ran as [the] D&RGW??
Hi Greg et al -
1. We(a)ther due to human activity or not, the climate in Archuleta, Conejos and Rio Arriba counties is somewhat warmer and drier than in 1968.
2. Partially due to the above, pine bark beetles are far more numerous than they were in 1968, resulting in a large number of highly flammable dead trees in the area.
3. The C&TS is not a privately-owned freight operation, but a publicly owned and government-dependent tourist railway which also caters to occasional, marginally profitable railfan photo charters. As Earl Knoob pointed out in his excellent post at [ngdiscussion.net], the C&TS is much more susceptible to the whims of government "experts" and the winds of politics than was the D&RG(W) in the 1880-1968 period.
The following photos from August 28, 1968 have been posted before, but IMHO these new versions are a bit better; the damp locomotives and slippery roof-walks clearly illustrate why spark arrestors were not needed that afternoon:
The reddish-brown color of several dozen beetle-killed trees is easily seen behind the train in this photo taken forty years later and only about five miles east of the two above:
*****
IMHO, our glass is not half-empty - it is ninety percent full - and quibbling over temporary and reversible measures being taken to ensure a successful season is childish. If you really want to help preserve the historic environment of the C&TS, contribute to The Friends project of your choice or - even better - come to Antonito or Chama and become part of a work-session team!!
(See [ngdiscussion.net]).
- El Curmudgeono y Instagatador Viejo y Verde de la Costa del Oro
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2012 12:30PM by Russo Loco.
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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.