Western Railroad Discussion > Semaphores of The Raton Line

Travel with your webmaster, his son Mason, and Raton the Chinese praying mantis, as they chase some of the last semaphore signals still in operation on the former Santa Fe Raton Line in New Mexico. This entertaining 14 minute video was shot over 3 days in October 2007. http://www.trainorders.com//avshare/thumbnails//2198-medium.jpg

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Good job. You captured the area well. I traveled the Raton route from LAUPT in September and really enjoyed myself.

Very cool Todd. I presume there is very little, if no freight traffic on that line? Very scenic certainly.

Great video.. The sequence's from Levy and Wagon Mound are the best. I have fond memories of having to stick my head out and check for orders at Wagon Mound in days long past. And to think, some of those ties have been there since '38!
Too bad that you did not see more trains. The movement of the semaphores was very captivating once again. Especially those at Levy. I recall the sidings were all built with three at the end of each. You could tell for miles and miles in advance the approach of the train and did not need to be able to see the light!
I hope you managed to get to see some of the stored cars between French and Colfax.

Clarence

Very nice video. I've managed to get out there a couple of times in the last few years, but like you, was only able to catch Amtrak. Better than nothing, I guess. Near the end of the video, you show the Chief rounding a curve and splitting a pair of semaphores before going over a bridge. Was wondering if that was the east side of the bridge over the Mora River east of Watrous. If so, how did you get to that side? I have hiked back to the bridge from Watrous, but didn't venture across the bridge to get to the other side of the river.

Nice video! One of my most pleasant memories of semaphores was as engineer on 1522 running from Emporia to Topeka and on to Argentine in semaphore territory. What baffles me is that I've never seen any photos of us running past any of them. I know folks must have been out there shooting.

Shame on you.Letting your son play on railroad property.I am sure we all do,but don't tell the world.

Uncle Joe

Great scenes!

I will be there next tues and would also like to know where that bridge+semaphore is? Most tues there is a Z that runs that route. Thanks for any info on the location of that bridge. Excellent job covering the remaining blades by the way.
JB

sdp35 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shame on you.Letting your son play on railroad
> property.I am sure we all do,but don't tell the
> world.
>
> Uncle Joe


I was wondering how long it would take before Mr policeman would post his comments. I think it's great. One of the joys I had as a kid was checking out the stuff along the ROW especially date nails in the ties. Although, I did this mostly along branch lines.

I think the video is extremely well done and enjoyed the motion of the semaphores captured on video. I'll bet your son will remember this trip forever. Well done.

Love the show, Todd! Nice work throughout. I especially loved the wide-screen. I would have liked to see a wide shot of those overturned coal hoppers.
I also had no idea that those semaphores were still in service out there. Excellent show.
Thanks!
Danny Harmon
Tampa

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>> I was wondering how long it would take before Mr
> policeman would post his comments. I think it's
> great. One of the joys I had as a kid was
> checking out the stuff along the ROW especially
> date nails in the ties. Although, I did this
> mostly along branch lines.

Just because we all did it as a kid, does not mean that it is right. I did lots of stuff as a kid that I would never dream of letting my kid do. Kids should be taught the the railroad right of way is not a playground. Tracks are for trains. But then again Todd may have had permission from the BNSF to be on their right of way. Who knows he probably had a BNSF supervisor escorting them to ensure their safety.

Drove along there on Oct. 12 coming from El Paso and only seen 1 train moving but my camera wouldn't focus on the semaphores so don't know if I got any pics. or not. Will find out Mon. upkpfan

Very nice Todd, looks like you and your son had a great time out there! Sad BNSF pulled all freights except for that Local job to Lamy!

What a nice Father and Son Railroad Weekend together. It reminded me of the times our Grandfather would take my two brothers and I to watch the Milwaukee steam engines cross under an old wooden overpass south of our farm between Perry and Dawson Iowa. As the Milwaukee and its ribbons of steel have faded into the sunset so to are the semaphores along the Raton. After Mason has grown, I'm sure that he will reflect back to the good time he had with his Dad in New Mexico watching passenger trains, semaphores, and using his imagination in building his own small rock house. Life is precious and fleeting so your Father and Son adventure is a treasure, Todd. An adventure that you can't experience first hand in front of a TV or computer game. Here's to more Father & Son Rail Adventures.

Todd and Mason - GREAT video. I've always wanted to get out there and see #3/#4 and the semaphores. Have to live vicariously through your video. Hope to bump into you both railfanning again someday with my sons. - Mike

Kewl video and semaphores on a remote line. I think only Amtrak uses this line now. Grades are very steep for long freights of today. Are the semaphores gone now?