Steam & Excursion > Small three-footers part 1: D&RG 425/315

In late September of 2021 Pete Lerro organized a charter for dedicated rail photographers, utilizing visiting engines that were in town at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic for the 19th Century Roundup as well as a few others.  All in all it was a very rare opportunity to photograph three unique engines in one trip: D&RG 315 (lettered as pre-D&RGW era 425), D&RG 168 and RGS #20.    I knew the opportunity to photograph all of these engines together in one shot may not come again, so I made the 2,000 mile round trip journey to Colorado and back to experience the joys of railroading on the former San Juan extension of the D&RG.   What follows are highlights from the wonderful time we had in Southern Colorado and New Mexico fall colors.

Photo 1:  On a cold September morning, D&RG 425 departs Chama yards for a deadhead run to Antonito.

Photo 2:  D&RG #425 (315) loops around the curve near Lava Tank at sunrise with a mixed freight on the D&RG's San Juan extension.

Photo 3: 425 / 315 at the Rancho Del Oso crossing just north of Lobato Trestle with engineer Harry Haas at the throttle, running light to Antonito.  A side-on view to appreciate the beautiful lines of this fine Baldwin C-18.

 

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

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Photo 1: 425 / 315 departs light just after sunrise from Chama on a ferry trip to Antonito.   A brakeman leans out the gangway as the locomotive gets underway.  To the right is a gon full of wood used for the Iron Horse Roundup a few weeks prior, and the Chama depot behind.  In the foreground, the switch lanterns have been doused for the day.

Photo 2: D&RG 425 approaches Lava Tank at Sunrise. 

Photo 3: Crossing the Rio Chama Bridge just before Juke's Tree.

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

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Photo 1: Rio Grande Glory Days: 425 at Cascade with a mixed train.   Soon the station master at Osier will hear the warning whistles as she rounds the last few curves before making a stop for water and beans. 

Photo 2: Out in the badlands near Lava Tank.

Photo 3: A splash of clearing stormlight color: 425 at Antonito Tank.
 

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

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Photo 1: High up in the San Juans of Colorado, D&RG #425 / 315 stampedes towards Toltec Gorge after a brief stop at Osier.  Approximately MP 317.

Photo:2:  A closer approach to Lava Tank.

Photo 3:  Existing Mud Tunnel at MP 311.3. 

Thanks for looking.

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

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It doesn't get bertter than that!

Superlative set - WOW!!!
Bob

Well done, as usual, Mike.

Martin

Very nice set of shots.

Bob Wilcox
Charlottesville, VA
My Flickr Shots

Terrific images well worth the 2,000 mile journey.  Thanks for sharing your Colorado & New Mexico narrow gauge steam encounters.

Absolutely beautiful work, super lighting and needle sharp.  You set the bar into the stratosphere with these.
Thank you for sharing.

Super pix, Mike!

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

Mike those are gorgeous shots but as probably the one naysayer, I would have rather seen the 168
and the 315 in their Rio Grande end of service paint. 

Out 

Absolutely amazing photos Mike! I think you have a week’s worth, or more IOTDs in there. And congrats on the IOTD that got me to this fantastic thread. I think #5 is my favorite of the bunch.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

Superlative series. Brings back memories of when we rode from Chama to Antonito in 2017.
John

Nice work, especially that low light one approaching Lava tank. Well odne.

Great!
The Lava tank photographs with the aproaching train in the twilight are my favourites.

Cheers
Franz

Great set of pics!!