Steam & Excursion > Blanca,CO New Park is about complete with critter under cover

Blanca is on the east side of the San Luis Valley east of Alamosa, CO, on the CO Pacific Rio Grande RR.Veta Pass Line.
The park is just about completed. Putting up the flag pole and adding lights (will do on Thursday) to the four cattle cars is all that is needed to be done.
While working on the park, it is amazing the number of people that stop and look at the D-500 and park. It really has become an eye catcher for people to stop. Hope to get some signs up soon. 
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,5908268,5909330#msg-5909330



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/25 10:13 by PlyWoody.

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PlyWoody Wrote:
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> Blanco  is on the east side of the San Luis
> Valley east of Alamosa, CO, on the CO Pacific Rio
> Grande RR.Veta Pass Line.
> The park is just about completed. Putting up the
> flag pole and adding lights (will do on Thursday)
> to the four cattle cars is all that is needed to
> be done.
> While working on the park, it is amazing the
> number of people that stop and look at the D-500
> and park. It really has become an eye catcher for
> people to stop. Hope to get some signs up soon. 


So,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,how about a photo of the "D-500", whatever THAT is!

The Southern San Luis Valley (SSLV) D-500 was a home built locomotive that used a chain drive stored for many years at Blanca, Colorado.  Here's a look at her back in 2021.  NO sound video.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/25 12:13 by cozephyr.

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Jack, EMD looked at it but built the GP40X instead.

Out 

The D-500 is really unique and so is the area of San Luis Valley. It is the largest alpine valley in the world (or so I have read).

By the way, it is Blanca, CO named for nearby Blanca Peak.

Tom

The D-500 is what you get when the guys from Roadkill decide to build a locomotive.

I drove by there last week, slowed down, looked it over and kept going, should have stopped for a photo I guess.

guess another trip is in order

The chain drive is pretty amazing, looked to be 100 pitch chain and pretty much bulletproof.

Out