Western Railroad Discussion > Paisano Pass

Alpine TX Crew changes in the wee hours. #2 was whistling into town as we left the restaraunt a couple blocks away so I went for it.
And with a little help from my friends, got a lineup and assaulted Paisano pass for a CTC board shot I had seen many years ago. September 1987 issue had a great write up. After a late start....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/20 12:34 by SD45X.

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After running up to Paisano to look for a stack train that should have been there, went back to Alpine looking. Saw a headlight. Turned around and hauled up to the top again. Crap here was the stack cruising up to the top. So I figured the stack would have priority and took off running, jogging, staggering along. For naught. They put the stack in the hole at Paisano and brought the freight up the hill. Slowly...
Although mostly recovered from hacking up a lung getting my breath back, the freight finally showed up a half hour later struggling up the .8-1.0% climb.

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Almost to the top
DP
And the shot I was trying for. 

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The stacks looked cool snaking through the countryside
Caught up the the freight west of Marfa
Further west an eastbound drops down to Sierra Blanca where the T&P comes together with the T&NO.

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Four stars !  Outstanding work. 

And following the old highway to Finlay, this eastbound popped up. Notice the extreme rebuilding of the wall of the cut.
Then mom, did I mention my 75 year old mom was driving? she ran through a quarter mile of sand over the "road" out to the Intersate. Or tried. Front drive didn't cut it. No tow trucks would come get us. Did find a guy to come out in his Escalade and after a half hour digging and jerking we got out. Pretty much ruined 3-1/2 hrs of daylight and then we headed home. Still haven't see El Paso......

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Very NICE series!

Larry

Shots Rock!

Great set.

Bob

Sure enjoyed these shots, having ridden the Sunset many times through the Pass.

Really enjoyed seeing these.

Kim Heusel

Very interesting!

Awesome adventure with impressive results.  Glad you didn't get any flat tires on your latest (November 2020-?) outing.  Texas sand sure can bog you down.  Glad you got out and back on the road.  

Did you layover at Del Rio, Texas, my old stomping grounds-?



SD45X Wrote:
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> Then Mom, did I mention my 75-year old Mom was
> driving? she ran through a quarter mile of sand
> over the "road" out to the Interstate. Or tried.
> Front drive didn't cut it. No tow trucks would
> come get us. Did find a guy to come out in his
> Escalade and after a half hour digging and jerking
> we got out. Pretty much ruined 3-1/2 hrs of
> daylight...

great images.  thanks for making the effort to post them...........

66

Great coverage of the pass.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Killer series!!!

Excellent. Definately new territory for you. Curious IF you know the reason for the signal that's visible beside the train in upper left in shot seven? Pretty close to the other signals at the end of the siding and double indicating a turnout?
JB

There’s a couple top notch angles in there!! Thank You for the effort.

That's the signal the KCM&O uses to leave the SP to go to Presidio. Trackage rights Alpine to Paisano.

Also noted that line had MOW gang in their siding. Line getting new ties here south. And at Ft Stockton new welded rail getting laid alon with ties.

Great series of photos. Beautiful part of Texas, which you did a nice job of capturing.