Photo by Mark Rightmire, The Orange County Register |
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Knott's Celebrates 60 Years
Tags:
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
Galloping Goose,
heritage railroad,
history,
Locomotive,
narrow gauge,
Opinion,
Out of state,
passenger,
Preservation,
Rio Grande Southern,
steam
Location:
Knotts Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA, USA
Friday, January 6, 2012
Death of Young Railfan Pinned On Bullying By Schoolmates
Editor's note for younger readers: The following story deals with the death of a 13 year-old by suicide. For younger readers, I recommend you discuss the issue with your parents, pastor or another counselor before reading this post or it's related links.
Now, to proceed...
Tags:
Departing,
Opinion,
Out of state,
Union Pacific
Location:
Cheyenne, WY, USA
Saturday, December 24, 2011
POTD - All Is Calm, All Is Bright
It's late on a snowy evening in December 2007. Union Station is lit up in all her glory, but the lights belie the cold rails and deserted platforms that await any weary traveler looking for warmth or maybe a room at the inn. The station sleeps in early winter slumber, a few years before the redevelopment claims the platforms seen here and subterranean concourse under DUSPA.
Amber hues and blowing snow stretch out in this somber photo of Denver Union Station the night of December 8, 2007 Photo: Patrick Boury |
Tags:
Denver Union Station,
POTD
Location:
Denver Union Station, Denver, CO, USA
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
POTD - Looking Down The Line Toward Christmas
The Polar Express is making runs three times an evening all this week from Durango to "the North Pole." It's approach toward the platform at the Durango station mirrors the approach of Christmas, now just a few days off. Rather than get caught up in the business and hassle of the season, it's my hope that you take a moment to step out on the platform with a cup of coffee (or hot chocolate) and gaze off down the track at the coming beauty and wonder of Christmas. It may not be convenient, or even on your schedule. Nevertheless, it may be necessary.
The Polar Express makes it's way past the back of the roundhouse on its way to pick up scores of children and their parents in Durango on a frosty evening Photo: DHLake |
Monday, December 19, 2011
POTD - Winter Snows Roll Freely By Amtrak's California Zephyr
In honor of those who will be travelling this week, I thought I'd see if I could turn up a Photo of the Day or two on the subject of travel.
It was near my birthday that rail photographer Mark Hyams took this terrific shot of Amtrak's California Zephyr rounding the corner at Cliff, Colorado. I know it doesn't look like it, but the train is in the middle of a near 180° turn and, a few moments after the picture is taken, will pass through tunnel 29, directly beneath the photographer. The remains of Tunnel 28 after it was daylighted are behind the first two sleeper cars at left. All the while, Boulder Creek is swollen with winter snows and it runs freely away from us and down the canyon for the Gulf of Mexico.
It was near my birthday that rail photographer Mark Hyams took this terrific shot of Amtrak's California Zephyr rounding the corner at Cliff, Colorado. I know it doesn't look like it, but the train is in the middle of a near 180° turn and, a few moments after the picture is taken, will pass through tunnel 29, directly beneath the photographer. The remains of Tunnel 28 after it was daylighted are behind the first two sleeper cars at left. All the while, Boulder Creek is swollen with winter snows and it runs freely away from us and down the canyon for the Gulf of Mexico.
Amtrak's California Zephyr pulls through Cliff, Colorado late for it's appointments at Fraser, Granby and Glenwood Springs at the height of summer, July 11, 2011 Photo: Mark Hyams |
Tags:
Amtrak,
California Zephyr,
Moffat Route,
passenger,
POTD,
Tunnel
Location:
Tunnel 29 near Pinecliffe, CO, USA
Friday, December 16, 2011
POTD - 50 Years Ago, Waiting In A Winter Wonderland
Well, it's been a while since I've posted any Photos of the Day, hasn't it? Too long, I know. Let's get back into it, shall we?
John West is a favorite photographer of mine, and it's not just because he had the good sense to be in Colorado photographing Rio Grande narrow gauge in the 1960s. It's because he didn't have any common sense standing out there in the cold snow waiting for two Rio Grande locomotives to chatter past with a load of Gramps Oil cars headed for Cumbres Pass and the oil fields beyond. Remember, pain is temporary, but film is forever. Thanks, Mr. West!
John West is a favorite photographer of mine, and it's not just because he had the good sense to be in Colorado photographing Rio Grande narrow gauge in the 1960s. It's because he didn't have any common sense standing out there in the cold snow waiting for two Rio Grande locomotives to chatter past with a load of Gramps Oil cars headed for Cumbres Pass and the oil fields beyond. Remember, pain is temporary, but film is forever. Thanks, Mr. West!
A double-headed narrow gauge freight headed by K-36 No. 480 puts on a wintry show as it charges across the San Luis Valley tangent track 50 years ago this month Photo: John West |
Location:
San Luis Valley near Alamosa, CO, USA
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Follow Up: State's Sale of Railroad Has Colorado's Citizens Fearing the Future
Following up on last month's post, State's Sale of Railroad Has Colorado's Citizens Fearing the Future, V&S Railway has indeed thrown the switch, taking the Towner Line, a rail route connecting Pueblo with Kansas and the east, one step closer to oblivion by announcing its intention to abandon service and rip up the rails. The Pueblo Chieftain has more with "Owner plans to scrap Towner Line." If Colorado wants to keep the line operational, it has the option. But finding $15 Million, what the Chieftain claims it may take, in a budget already fairly stripped down, may take some serious effort. On the other hand, the alternative may be more costly to the future of Colorado.
Tags:
BNSF,
history,
Joint Line,
Missouri Pacific,
Union Pacific
Location:
Avondale, CO, USA
Friday, December 9, 2011
Englewood Selling Its Santa Fe Station
Editor's Note: A cold, chronic illness symptoms, and Christmas shopping have had the cumulative effect of blocking at least two major posts and a few POTDs from reaching you this week. I hope to get them out this weekend.
"Anyone want to buy, renovate and use a historic train depot?" So begins an article from the Englewood Herald.
"Anyone want to buy, renovate and use a historic train depot?" So begins an article from the Englewood Herald.
Location:
Englewood, CO, USA
Sunday, November 27, 2011
UP 844 Goodwill Tour Videos Show A Classy Main Line Steam Engine, Crew
Rail photographers Skip Weythman and Dan Barker work as a two-man video team that does a very good job capturing the beauty of locomotives as their trains travel the broad expanses of western railroads, especially in Colorado. Their pacing shots of Union Pacific Steam are exceptional, considering the difficulty of steadying the shot, keeping an even rate of speed, and the physically demanding nature of the work. Their work stayed true to form despite the cold weather during Union Pacific's goodwill Centennial tour of the southwest states, which is winding down in Ogden, Utah, at the time of writing. Their work shows in the first four videos in the playlist below.
Tags:
extras,
Out of state,
Skip Weythman,
steam,
Union Pacific,
web videos
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Railroads Celebrate A Colorado Christmas
The Polar Express arrives at Durango's 125 year old station |
Colorado has many traditions and celebrations associated with Christmas. Denver's Civic Center, across the park from the state capitol, is lit each Christmas season with an impressive display that brings thousands to the city center on every night it's lit. Christmas stars light several Colorado towns like Castle Rock and Palmer Lake. As I've noted other years, Colorado also has a global role with Christmas as NORAD tracks Santa Claus while he travels around the world each Christmas Eve.
Also as with years before, I have a list of railroads and layouts across Colorado that host special Christmas events. This year I have them grouped by metro area. One final note before the listings: Reservations, where possible, are strongly encouraged as these events have a tendency to sell out at the last minute.
Tags:
Christmas trains,
Colorado Railroad Museum,
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic,
Durango and Silverton,
Events,
Georgetown Loop,
heritage railroad,
Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway,
Rio Grande Scenic Railroad,
Royal Gorge
Location:
Colorado, USA
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
State's Sale of Railroad Has Colorado's Citizens Fearing the Future
Eads, Colo. Sept 30, 1989 Photo: Jeff Van Cleve |
Tags:
BNSF,
CDOT,
freight,
history,
Joint Line,
Missouri Pacific,
Opinion,
Union Pacific
Location:
Towner, Kiowa County, Colorado, USA
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
POTD - How Does One Fire An F9?
The characteristic curve of the window should be a tip to the railroad-minded about the location of the photographer when they snapped this picture of the Colorado River and the railroad right of way in July 1977. The shot is from the fireman's seat aboard the Rio Grande Zephyr in the cab of EMD F9 5771 heading east out of Glenwood Springs into Glenwood Canyon. In 25 years, the last remnant of the old California Zephyr will be a distant memory and the last of the Rio Grande covered wagons are preserved at the Colorado Railroad Museum..
Photo: Eric Sherrill |
Tags:
California Zephyr,
Colorado Railroad Museum,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
history,
passenger,
POTD
Location:
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601, USA
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