Day 2 - Monday 10/16/2023 - Mid Train Helper North to Silverton
I must of had been too excited as I woke up on and off during the night. I finally woke up at 5:20am to a whistle and decided to just get up. I was out the door by 5:45am and checked out of the Best Western. I parked and made it to the Durango station. I checked in my suitcase and watched it being loaded into box car 3275. I then got to take in watching the train being put together in the dark cool Durango morning. The freight was located on the track closest to the depot so after the bags were loaded, the 473 pulled it forward. The 476 backed onto the passenger cars and the freight backed to join them before we were allowed to board.
The train was led by 473 and consisted of 8 freight cars: drop bottom gondolas 743 & 717; flat cars with rail 6665, 6519, 6505, & 6668; and followed by box cars 3414 and 3275. Next was 476 with four of the San Juan vestibule passenger cars 327, 323, concession car 212, vestibule passenger car 319, Silver Vista 313 and caboose 0540. The entire train was lettered for the Rio Grande recreating a train from the 1950s.
However, there was an option to chase to Rockwood and board the train there since there weren't any run-bys in the valley. So I decided to do that and left to setup by the Durango Public Library once the 473 started to back down to the passenger train. I left about 15 minutes before the planned 7:00am departure to get setup. I caught it there and then a few more times up the valley. They took water at Hermosa. I watched them leave Hermosa and then went straight to Rockwood as I didn't want to risk missing the train and the rest of the shots past Hermosa would have probably made it too close of call to meeting the train in Rockwood.
After boarding the chasers at Rockwood, the train backed down to the 'mini highline' location for a pair of run-bys there. From there it became a blur but it sure was a great day of riding with so many run-bys. We only had to skip one that I remember at the High Bridge. Doing a trip that was one way to Silverton one day and back the next makes it where you can get so many locations.
There was one Silverton train that day. At this time, 493, 473 and 476 were the only steam power available as 480 was just about to be out of the shop; 482 was down for work and 481 was still coal burning. So with 473 and 476 on our train and fall colors being late this year and still strong, the 493 had its hands full with a long train and ALCo diesel 107 was acting as helper. Lucky for us, we caught it today at Tacoma and since it is 'down grade' the 107 was cut off to run ahead, leaving the 493 alone.
Overall, it was a fantastic day of railfanning. The fall colors were outstanding and the train looked and ran superb! The train was open seating so I took one of the single seats in the Silver Vista and thoroughly enjoyed the day, bouncing between there and the coupula of the following caboose 0540.
We got to Silverton pretty much on time at 4:45pm. I got checked in at the grand imperial and the reception started at 5:30pm. The D&S put up charcuterie boards they had a bar there they took orders for dinner, although they took my order pretty late (and forgot it?), so I just ate on charcuterie. Jerry day had a presentation on the K-28s but there was a large crowd and it was kind of hard to hear. The D&S announce that the 478 is going to be restored next which was welcomed!
I left the reception about 7:30pm got changed and went out to take night shots. We thought the two K-28s were to be next to the Silverton depot but unfortunately, this wasn't done before the crew went dead on hours. I still get some good Milky Way shots as well as a few night shots of the engines. I got back in about 10:30 called it a night.
The train was led by 473 and consisted of 8 freight cars: drop bottom gondolas 743 & 717; flat cars with rail 6665, 6519, 6505, & 6668; and followed by box cars 3414 and 3275. Next was 476 with four of the San Juan vestibule passenger cars 327, 323, concession car 212, vestibule passenger car 319, Silver Vista 313 and caboose 0540. The entire train was lettered for the Rio Grande recreating a train from the 1950s.
However, there was an option to chase to Rockwood and board the train there since there weren't any run-bys in the valley. So I decided to do that and left to setup by the Durango Public Library once the 473 started to back down to the passenger train. I left about 15 minutes before the planned 7:00am departure to get setup. I caught it there and then a few more times up the valley. They took water at Hermosa. I watched them leave Hermosa and then went straight to Rockwood as I didn't want to risk missing the train and the rest of the shots past Hermosa would have probably made it too close of call to meeting the train in Rockwood.
After boarding the chasers at Rockwood, the train backed down to the 'mini highline' location for a pair of run-bys there. From there it became a blur but it sure was a great day of riding with so many run-bys. We only had to skip one that I remember at the High Bridge. Doing a trip that was one way to Silverton one day and back the next makes it where you can get so many locations.
There was one Silverton train that day. At this time, 493, 473 and 476 were the only steam power available as 480 was just about to be out of the shop; 482 was down for work and 481 was still coal burning. So with 473 and 476 on our train and fall colors being late this year and still strong, the 493 had its hands full with a long train and ALCo diesel 107 was acting as helper. Lucky for us, we caught it today at Tacoma and since it is 'down grade' the 107 was cut off to run ahead, leaving the 493 alone.
Overall, it was a fantastic day of railfanning. The fall colors were outstanding and the train looked and ran superb! The train was open seating so I took one of the single seats in the Silver Vista and thoroughly enjoyed the day, bouncing between there and the coupula of the following caboose 0540.
We got to Silverton pretty much on time at 4:45pm. I got checked in at the grand imperial and the reception started at 5:30pm. The D&S put up charcuterie boards they had a bar there they took orders for dinner, although they took my order pretty late (and forgot it?), so I just ate on charcuterie. Jerry day had a presentation on the K-28s but there was a large crowd and it was kind of hard to hear. The D&S announce that the 478 is going to be restored next which was welcomed!
I left the reception about 7:30pm got changed and went out to take night shots. We thought the two K-28s were to be next to the Silverton depot but unfortunately, this wasn't done before the crew went dead on hours. I still get some good Milky Way shots as well as a few night shots of the engines. I got back in about 10:30 called it a night.
