Western Railroad Discussion > SLRG fighting back from the fire, new Adams State Univ loco paint

This past weekend our NARCOA motorcar group ran over the SLRG. Saturday was our RT test run Alamosa - Antonito to make sure all cars can run well at higher altitudes (most of our group was from sea level like areas). Sunday we would run ahead of the concert train, past Fir to LaVeta, turn cars and head back to Fir Summit and partake in the SLRG Summer Concert.  After the concert we followed the train back to Alamosa.  As some of you might know, NARCOA runs are not always great for hardcore railfan type photography as we often run on a tight schedule for meeting revenue trains. Saturday was a bonus this year as there was nothing running south to Antonito but us, so when we found out that SLRG was christening recently repainted 4138 (former NJT GP40FH) for Adams State Univeristy we delayed our departure a bit to watch the fesitiviites. (as I was in charge of the run, making this decsion was easy!)  After the Champagne  event SLRG 2138 headed the Saturday Concert train eastbound up to Fir while the motorcars headed west/south to Antonito

Photo one shows the loco backing out of storage 
Photo 2  in front of Alamosa station with representatives of Adams State U and Iowa Pacific/SLRG President Ed Ellist (on the right, with the neat hat)
Photo 3. Ed Ellis taking honors breaking the first bottle of Champagne  over the front coupler

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Photo 1   Ed Ellis scuries away from the foam and takes  a look at the damage

Photo 2  Adams State University reps stand back as one of them first tries to open a second bottle of Champagne 

Photo 3 Giving up, they drop the bottle, which hit the front porch on its way down (not breaking), spreading Champagne everywhere before landing on the ballast 

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dAmn miss the NJT paint ;o)

Are they operating passenger trains from Alamosa to La Veta again ? THANKS ! 

Now to some over the mainline info and trains

1, 2  Our Sunday motorcar departure was delayed a bit while waiting for the overnight freight from Walsenburg. We met it at the east end of Alamosa yard in heavy fog. 

3. After a run to Fir we had a short break before heading down the grade to LaVeta. At the Fir summit one can see blackened trees in the background above the tracks.  The stage is to the right and below the mainline, later photos will show the damage at Fir.  On the way from Sierra to Fir we noted lots of damaged areas where the fire jumped from site to site.  Several homes (or the remains of houses) could be seen distant from the mainline at isolated locations.   There would be a mile or so of untouched green forest, then a half mile of totally blackened trees and ground.  At many areas the recent rains caused black mud to run down to the normally dry drainage ditches and flood over the tracks.   The railroad was shut down for many days so freight is backed up at both ends.   Instead of using the wye at LaVeta we turned each motorcar one at a time at a road crossing, then headed back to Fir. 

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1.  After departing Fir the fire damage next to the tracks increased, in fact, in some places several miles of continuous black trees and ground was noted.  This was between tunnel 1 and 2 and shows some typical sites.   The trees to the left of the mainline are totally burned, as is the mountain side to the left and foward. Note the trees on the right are untouched.    The fire jumped over the left side of hte mountain in the background which then jumped over Highway 160 (LaVeta Pass) resulting in more lost houses. 

2.  After turning at LaVeta we headed back qwar up the hill towards Fir.  This scene is at what is called "Natural Cut" as the orginal DRGW construction went through those vertical rocks without needing to blast.  Note that all trees on both sides are burned, as is the valley to the right off the photo. 

3. Still heading west, above tunnel 1 (lower tunnel) one finds entire hillsides burned.  The yellowish trees were scorched, with the green getting cooked to a dull yellow/brown. Note that there are isolated trees that appear untouched by tghe fire. 

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1, 2   Two more looking westbound headed up to Fir.  Most drainage ditches were full of muddy looking black ash that has run off the hill from heavy rains this past week or so.   In some places there are signs of mud running over the track, however the SLRG track crews have been working overtime to keep the mainliine open.   SLRG may need to rename this years Fall Colors trip to something else?

3. One advantage of being on the motorcar run is we had to reach Fir summit and clear well before the arrival of their concert train.  We did so with almost 2 hours to spare, so there was plenty of time to find a photo spot of the arrival.  This view is of the S curves just below mile post 209.  It takes the train 2 miles of running around Mule Shoe Curve to get to the spot where this photo was taken.  A wider angle view from this location to show burned trees everywhere.  The background trees that look like they are dark from cloud cover is simply black remains of limbs and trunks. The concert venue is about 500 feet to the right side of the photo, more on this later. 

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Great pics and narrative. Glad to know they are still in operation. Been a rough time for them between the fire and later mudslides.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

1. Here it is, arriving a bit late due to several miles of 15 mph slow orders Sierra to Ft. Garland. Leading is recently painted SLRG 4138 with their concert train, followed by two units to facilitate reversing direction at Fir. Due to the line being blocked for some time, cars were on Fir siding, thus using power at each end the train simply reversed direction after the concert to head back west to Alamosa. 

2, 3.  Turning around 180 degrees from the location where photo 1 was taken and crossing the track allows one to get photos of the train arriving Fir.  Before arriving a deer was trying to find something to eat on the tracks, then perked up when hearing the diesels approaching. Note the trees just below west Fir switch are, for the most part, untouched.   However the wider angle few as the train arrives shows sevaral large trees suffered major damage. 

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"SLRG may need to rename this years Fall Colors trip to something else?"

Howzabout Ash Wednesday Commemmorative Tour.

 

Jamie Yeager
Santa Fe, NM

Black and gray are colours.

 

Bill Miller
Galt, ON



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/18 14:34 by CCMF.

1. New stage under construction. You can see the freight car trucks behind which used to hold up a simulated boxcar that was the orginal stage. Totally gone now, but it was the only structure that burned down, with the exeption of one plastic porta potty building, seen on the far right.  Hope no one was doing any business in their during the fire. 

2. At the end of the concert Ed Ellis (2nd from left) joined the other entertainers to sing "City of New Orleans" after which people boarded the train for the trip back to Alamosa

3. WB negotiating Mule Shoe Curve, note the blackened trees in the background. 

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1, 2    A bit below Mule Shoe, again background full of colorful blackened trees

3. We caught up to the train just out of Sierra, following for a while at 15 mph.    

Overall the SLRG employees are really upbeat about keeping the line open.  They are running 60 cars a day over the pass when they can by doubling the hill from Ft Garland over the pass.   A lot of normally open tracks are stuffed with loads waiting to go east to Walsenburg.  Unfortunatly for photos freights depart eastbound out of Alamosa in the evening, turn at Walsenburg and return by early morning.  They run over the the most scenic part of the pass at night. 

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Yes, on certain days.  You need to check their website (coloradotrain.com) to find out which days they run the full distance.  I think these trains are first class only tickets, no cheapie open window option.   Right now I don't know how they can turn around at LaVeta, both the wye and siding are packed in with cars so they can't even run around the train.   

Proof that Ed Ellis lives.....now only if his checks will clear.

Will he sell the steam loco that is just sitting there?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/18 17:44 by CPRR.

Surely you weren't taking photos while operating the motorcar.

No, we have a restriction on this as photos are considered "electronic devices".  Helps to have a passenger along, which is allowed. 

Fantastic shots of a rarely photographed line, note how green it already is after a couple of recent rains.

Out

Problem is these were taken from the left side of a MT19-A which means the operator side.
Steve

frntinplate Wrote:
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> No, we have a restriction on this as photos are
> considered "electronic devices".  Helps to have a
> passenger along, which is allowed. 

Tremendous coverage 

BB