Re: And, one more

Philip is correct on this one. This is the 172 crossing about 1 mile south of 160 and Elmore's Corner. It is the first photo I've seen of the RR crossing sign in the later days. The building in the background is greater downtown Falfa. The building was a little store named Falfa Mercantile that had everything including Texaco gasoline. It was owned and operated by an old Italian named Tony Derenzo. The store remained open into the early 80s and retained the old round Texaco sign to the end. Tony passed away in '82 or '83. There were several times I had to run to Tony's store to buy parts needed to fix a water leak at the campground. Jerry Piccoli, owner of Eagle Block on the top of Farmington Hill, recalls that as a kid he and his brothers and sisters would ride their bicycles to "Uncle Tony's Store" for ice cream on a hot summer day.
If inclined, pull out your copy of "Around The World In Eighty Days". In the scene where the sailcar passes the broken down train (which is at Falfa), watch closely when the engine is passed. Out from behind the engine the backside of "Uncle Tony's" store appears for a brief second.
Thank you again for posting these great photos Fritz. There are so few published photos of this end of the narrow gauge and your photos are different than the usual ones seen. And again, please keep them coming.
Ray Loose
Durango, Colorado