Steam To Monte Vista....
| July 30, 2007 07:04PM |
|
On June 26, the first steam powered passenger train in over 75 years arrived in Monte Vista, Colorado. 1744 pulled the 2 car train from Alamosa to help celebrate Monte Vista's annual "Sky-Hi Stampede" rodeo, parade, etc.
Interestingly, the Shell gas station sits on the site of the original depot that was torn down in 1958.
We did attract a fair crowd whenever we stopped. We ran 3 round trips from Alamosa on July 26 & 27.
What's this, then? 1744 shows off one of its hollow staybolts. That's the fire in the firebox seen though that little hole...
Monte Vista had a nice twin-spout water tank, whose foundations are right behind where this pic was taken..
Back in Alamosa..
On our second trip, we hauled a bit of revenue freight. The local crew was short on time so we grabbed 2 reefer cars of San Luis Central potatoes at Sugar Jct. and brought them into town with us..
In 2003 the former operators of the SLRG turned over some cars near MP 200. One of the cars was full of Coors beer barley, which was covered over and buried. The local bear population quickly discovered it and in the summer when the barley gets warm and ferments, we get a nice collection of drunk bears munching on the rotting grain. Here are 2 of them stumbling up the hillside after being startled by the train:
And thier cousin too:
Interestingly, the Shell gas station sits on the site of the original depot that was torn down in 1958.
We did attract a fair crowd whenever we stopped. We ran 3 round trips from Alamosa on July 26 & 27.
What's this, then? 1744 shows off one of its hollow staybolts. That's the fire in the firebox seen though that little hole...
Monte Vista had a nice twin-spout water tank, whose foundations are right behind where this pic was taken..
Back in Alamosa..
On our second trip, we hauled a bit of revenue freight. The local crew was short on time so we grabbed 2 reefer cars of San Luis Central potatoes at Sugar Jct. and brought them into town with us..
In 2003 the former operators of the SLRG turned over some cars near MP 200. One of the cars was full of Coors beer barley, which was covered over and buried. The local bear population quickly discovered it and in the summer when the barley gets warm and ferments, we get a nice collection of drunk bears munching on the rotting grain. Here are 2 of them stumbling up the hillside after being startled by the train:
And thier cousin too:
| Subject | Author | Posted |
|---|---|---|
|
Earl | July 30, 2007 07:04PM |
|
tomc | July 30, 2007 07:49PM |
|
Hoss | July 30, 2007 07:56PM |
|
Chris Weaver | July 30, 2007 10:43PM |
|
Ed Stabler | July 31, 2007 05:13AM |
|
michael | July 31, 2007 05:52AM |
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
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