Steam & Excursion > a few from this weekend D&S NG winter photo specials

Saturday was the steam powered flanger special with diesel chase train for most of the riders (Flanger train had 4 caboose spots, sold out quickly)   One option was to chase the train from Durango to Rockwood and board the chase train there, an option selected by several of us.  Even though the canyon received 3 feet of snow earlier in the week, Colorado sun took care of much of it.  Thus there was little snow to flange, but the photo options were great.  

1.  Shortly out of Durango at the Trimble Road crossing some chasers found a "pond" where the water had not frozen.  This is obviously the flanger train. 
2.. Another option for the chasers was to get to Granite Rock overlook, just south of Rockwood to capture the flanger consist headed north.  About a 13 minute fast walk/hike to the Rockwood boarding area. 
3. Due to some mechanical issues, departure from Durango was delayed and along the route 492 had a trailing truck bearing issue, so we cooled our heals at Rockwood to allow the regular Cascade Winter Train to pass. Here is our chase train on the main after letting the regular train pass. 

more to follow 

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1. Further up the line at Teft Siding we had our first offical set of runbys.
2.  A bit north of Teft another runby, with little snow to flange
3. We got as far north as Needleton Tank, a first for winter photo specials in over 20 years.   Hard to photograph due to sun almost directly behind the rear of the train. 

next night shots 

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Although the train operations both days were conducted and organized by the D&S (which they did a great job working around some mechanical issues and the need not to delay their regular train), the night photo session was a separate ticket and conducted by Pete Lerro.  Pete is well known for setting up fantastic scenes, so all credit for these two shots is given to Pete Lerro and his crew.  I just set up the camera and tried few dozen exposures. 

1.  Classic 3/4 view with the Durango depot in the background
2. Pete Lerro set this up and coordinated cylinder cock steam release along with a backlight.   The poor employee holding the oil can was bathed in steam for about 15 minutes while the photo shoot patrons took turns trying their luck at various exposures.  While steam was escaping the employee was often blocked out so you had but 1-2 seconds to get the shot. 

Again, credit Pete Lerro for setting these up.

now back to the photo trains, next posting
 

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Day two was a slightly lower cost photo freight.  Again, a diesel powered chase train was used to convey most riders ahead of the steam powered photo freight.   As with Saturday, chasers had the option to try their luck between Durango and Rockwood, with the stipulation that the chase train would depart Rockwood "when ready" and not wait for late folks.  As it turned out we had sufficient time to make it without being stopped by the Colorado State Patrol radar unit at the 550 overpass. 
1, 2.  Chasers again set up at what was now dubbed "Lake Trimble"  or "Trimble Pond"  First by was the chase train, followed by the steam photo freight. 

3. After boarding the train at Rockwood we proceeded a short distance to the high line curve for the traditional set of runbys.  This time the sun was in the correct location. 

 

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1.  Both the leading chase train and steam freight took siding at Tacoma to let the regular winter Cascade train pass.  Here seen passing our freight.  A few wayward trees growing between the rails of this out of service spur were cut to allow this view.  

2. At Goblin fire scar area a few runbys with the classic mountain background.  First runby had a bit too much smoke which blanked out the mountains, thus some negotions with the crew for a "just right" oil setting. 

3. The last location of the day was again at the high line curve, first with the chase train backing out of sight. 

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Two runpasts, just in time to clear a fast setting sun. 

Overall a great, but somewhat expensive weekend.   As with any winter trip, snow can vary a lot. Over the last 30 years I have gone on dozens of winter trips, sometimes snow is up to the top of the locomotive drivers, sometimes no snow at all. However I am ready for next winter. 

Special thanks to Russell Heerdt of the  D&S who coordinated all the runs, selected photo locations safe to let folks out in sometimes deep snow (sometimes 3" of slippery mushy wet stuff).  Also kudos to the train crews who conducted many runbys, complying with varying requests for more or less smoke, whistle, etc. 

On the way home I spoted a short Alamosa to Monte Vista run on the Colorado Pacific Rio Grande, a few photos are posted on the western board. 

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Great images! Perfect light and perspectives.
GK

That is some nice work! Killer consists, well photographed!

Out 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/25 10:10 by callum_out.

Simply stunning, especially the two night images!

Superlative images!
Bob

You have some fantastic images there!

Dave

The diesel looks great too

Man that looks like fun, great photos.

Posted from iPhone

What's the Alco model #  RSD36 maybe?
 

pt199 Wrote:
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> What's the Alco model #  RSD36 maybe?
>  

Nope, remember these run on 3 foot gauge.  They're DL535E locomotives.

Soon to be one running on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic though that most likely
will kill the steam powered ballast trains. 

Out

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Great stuff..!!  Thanks for posting.

Looks like a fun weekend all round even if the climate change induced drought made for a lack of snow.

Already seeing the stuff on YouTube from 'Arkansas Locomotive Works' and 'Glorieta Sub Productions' highlighting a great couple of days.  Big Diehl is sleeping on the job though and posted something from last May on YT (though he did a nice diesel cab video on Facebook Reels)