Re: C&TS - Spring, 1982.

I remember this well. I probably have over 100 slides of these two days of railroading. It was my first trip to explore the "Narrow Gauge Circle". Earl had told me about the double header so I modified my plans to go from Durango-Ridgway-Montrose-Gunnison-Salida-Alamosa-Chama in two days instead of three. I remember when the cement was being loaded an older gentleman drove up and watched a little while with me and chit-chatted. Then he muttered "why am I watching this, I've got thousands of photos of when this thing was running" He then got in his old truck and drove off without ever saying his name. I have a strong suspicion he was Carl Helfin who still lived in Alamosa and owned the remains of the Narrow Gauge Motel. I never saw him again...