RR pics (5) from my vacation

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Here are a few interesting railroad sites and experiences from my recent vacation out west I though you might enjoy. First is Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad K-27 Mikado no. 486 turning on the turntable in Durango after a long day’s roundtrip to Silverton. I is preparing to enter the roundhouse for the night after being serviced.

Next you see D&SNG K-28 Midado no. 478 pulling our train north out of Durango on a beautiful late June morning. Here we are high in the mountains over the Animas River (Rio de Perdida Animas).

We drove the Phanton Canyon Road south from Cripple Creek, CO through Victor and Florence to Canon City. This bumpy gravel road follows 30 miles of the old Florence and Cripple Creek RR that serviced the gold mines southwest of Pike’s Peak. The pic is one of the two original RR tunels that you now drive through on the route. This is off the beaten path, but the view from the top of the pass is incredible. I highly recommend it (though my wife does not).

We visited the Golden Spike Museum at Promintory Summit, UT. We were fortunate to be there on a Satruday morning for the reenactment of the driving ot the silver and golden spikes and the last spike. The reproductions of old UP 119 and CP 60 “Jupiter” were beautiful.

Finally, here is the Cheyenne Big Boy, resting in a park just a short distance from the UP yard in Cheyenne. I have now seen three of the eight remaining Big Boys (including the ones in St. Louis, MO and Dallas TX). No matter how many times you see them, the sheer size of these behemoths always impress.

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2

Looks like a lot of fun! Are the Jupiter and 119 working locos or just mock ups for the re-enactment?

3

Thanks Ron, those are some great pics.

4

D&RGW 486 is not a K-27. I belive its a K-36. There is only 2 K-27s, 464 is in Michigan(by Me[:D]) and 463 is on the Cumbres and Toltec. eitherway Cool Pictures I want to get out to Durango

5

These locos are both working reproductions of the original. I’m not sure when these locos were built, but apparently they do steam demonstrations and photo run-by’s daily with them, and do a full reenactment with local people in period costume every Saturday morning and afernoon. I got some videos of the locos running which will get on You-Tube and link on here when I can. I was looking forward to this part of our trip, but expected there to be some civilization in the area. WRONG! Promintory Summit viewed from south to north looks much like it did 139 years ago. It is in the middle of nowhere and not on the way to anywhere. It’s about 1 hour from downtown Salt Lake City, 27 miles from the nearest town. The only thing there is a small museum and gift shop and the steam shops 1 mile away. I must say, however, that the reenactment is worth the trip for anyone going. Be sure to get there before 10:00 a.m. and plan to stay until noon.

Ron

6

You are correct. I don’t know where I got that K-27 into my mind, but 486 is definately a K-36–says so right on the cab. [:)]

BTW, I also got photos of three existing roundhouses and a couple of great depots which I will be posting on my old “What is that old depot…” thread, so you might look for those too.

Ron