Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot

Creede, Colorado – Built 1893

 

Video – Pacific Southwest Railway Cab Ride

Enjoy a Round-Trip Cab ride while with me as well as seeing many of the other railroad pieces at the Campo facility as we head toward the Mexico border at Tunnel #4. In the first half I will show you a map of our location along the route as we travel backwards and then enjoy full screen view out the window as we head back toward the museum. I also included history of the Southern Pacific Diesel Engine about half way into the video. So, sit back and enjoy this ~30 minute video

 

2013 – Colorado Railroad Museum – Open Car Day (AUG)

It’s another great Colorado Railroad Museum Open Car day and yes RRAdventures was there!

While we waited for the volunteers to get the cars opened up we enjoyed the D&RGW #346 make a Run-By…

UP Diner No. 4801

D&RG Caboose No. 0578

AT&SF Observation Car Navajo

D&RGW Dielsel Engine A & B Unit Nos. 5771 & 5762

Union Pacific Coach No. 5442 was also open but since we also had the opportunity to tour it’s interior at a  previous event ( 2013 – Colorado Railroad Museum – Open Car Day (MAR) ) we skipped it on this day.

Down in the basement, there was also a display going on called:  Life on Colorado Rails

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Have to also stop by the Denver HO Model Railroad Club also here in the basement

We have not been to Buffalo Bill’s Grave for a long time so we also made a stop there while in town too…

 

2013 – Silverdale Historic District

Up near Georgetown, there is an old Ghost Town know as Silverdale and we will spend most of the day exploring this area.

To begin with we catch a few signs at the parking area at the trail head…

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Our first stop will be at the ruins of the Colorado Central Mill and we will also find a friend enjoying the quite morning up here in the mountains.  The mill stopped operating in the 1920’s.

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The vast majoring of the trail we will be hiking is also old mining Railroad bed so you know I will be taking photos all along the route to document it and we will also find a few remnants along the way

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The trail dead-ends where the railroad would have crossed the creek as at a trestle is long since gone and then over another one yet

We will double back and drive up the road to another trail head where we catch an old mining structure that would have been near where the railroad would have come after crossing the Leavenworth Creek.

Above this location yet would have been Marshall Tunnel which today is no longer accessible…

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We will head into Georgetown and have lunch at the old Colorado Central Depot that was also used by the Georgetown Loop Railroad.

Just would be right not to at least catch a photo of the train while in town…

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 8B

We head up into the canyon as far as allowed.  The roadway heading up to the dam is basically the old D&RGW Right-of-Way.

Morrow Point Dam

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Also here is trail along Mesa Creek that take you down to river level.  We will take a short hike beyond the bridge and down stream.  In the photo below you can see the muddy water of the creek as it reaches the clearer water of the river.

Mesa Creek Trail

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As we continue our Adventures we cross over Cerro Summit; quick stop for a photo.

Cerro Summit (7,959ft)

Once in Montrose we head back to the D&RGW Depot; this time to tour the inside of the now Montrose Heritage Museum.  Lots of interesting stuff inside and out including a few more Railroad items.

D&RGW Depot – Montrose, CO (Heritage Museum)

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We will also head over to another museum to find out it’s FREE DAY so score one for timing.  Wonderful Native America museum dedicated to the Ute Indian Tribe.  Well worth the stop!

Ute Indian Museum

With the day complete We make one last stop to photograph a Boxcar we have seen many time when here in town but have never stopped to photograph.  Chalk up one Fruit Growers Express Refrigerator Car now used as a storage shed.

FHIX #40456

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 8A

Curecanti National Recreation Area

As we approach the end of this trip we will head into Curecanti for some views along with a little historic Railfanning.  Our first stop is at Pioneer Point to catch a different view of the D&RGW Logo Peak know as Curecanti Needle.

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There also some great views of the river and side waterways that run deep in this canyon

Our next stop is at Hermits Rest where you can get great views of the Rugged San Juans as well as take a hike into the canyon for those in better shape and have more time then we have…

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We will head towards Cimarron, CO as we heard the D&RGW Train Display might be up again and even though it isn’t, we catch the Steam Engine / Tender #278, Boxcar #3132, and Caboose #0577 in a back lot.  If you look at my older posts of the Display before it was recently restored these historic railroad equipment was in bad shape.

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 7c

We end this day with more Railfanning stops and to take in the wonderful nature views of the area

First stop is in Dolores, CO where we track down the old Rio Grande Southern Eatery as well as take a photo of the depot from another angle

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From there we head over Lizard Head Pass (10,222ft) and stop to photograph to RGS Logo peak

Here is also a photograph of Pilot Knob, Golden Horn, and Vermillion Peak from atop the pass

Onto Ridgway in hope to find the Railroad Museum open to check out the display inside – Yes, It’s open this time!

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A new arrival outside is also D&RGW #118 Business Car

We will also track down the D&RGW Ridgway Depot as well

Time to call it a day and head back to the hotel for the night…

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 7B

Anasazi Heritage Center – Canyons of the Ancients

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Canyons of the Ancients – Dominguez Pueblo

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Canyons of the Ancients – Escalante Pueblo

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Anasazi Heritage Center – Rio Grande Southern Goose #5

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2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 6D

Mesa Verde National Park – Continued

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Mesa Verde – Cedar Tree Tower

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Mesa Verde – Far View Sites

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Mesa Verde – Geologic Overlook

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… and as Lisa jokes, I found some RR stuff even here!

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Mesa Verde – Mancos Overlook

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 5B

As we continue our journeys we head up to Wolf Creek Pass (10,857 ft.)

We had also planned a side trip up to Lobo Overlook but we were shocked to find the gate still closed

So down the road we went to the Charles Stith Overlook 37 27.015 N / 106 53.353 W for some great views of the valley below and the interesting geology here as well.

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Our next stop is to hike up to Treasure Falls 37 26.553 N / 106 52.639 W

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Time for lunch so we pull into Pagosa Springs for a bite to eat…

It’s time for some Railfanning and this time we are off to find the D&RGW Florida River Bridge 37 12.861 N / 107 44.851 W

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We then head for Durango where we heard a new Steam Engine is being setup and restored in the park; Emma Sweeney.  They are doing a great job and got a chance to talk to the team for a bit while I was there…

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Time to head over to Mesa Verde National Park to get info on our planned morning hike.  This is also our first time to see the new Visitor Center..  Much larger and modern then the old one…

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