Day 3 - Tuesday 10/17/2023 - Two Separate Trains, Passenger and Freight, South to Durango
I had gone hard the day before so slept in til 7:00am or so at Silverton's elevation of 9,301 feet. I finally got up and repacked leisurely. I ventured out to watch the crew back the two locomotives to their trains. I wish I would have gone out earlier to watch the servicing of the 473 and 476 in the cold morning air. The crew started loading bags at 9:00 with the two trains leaving at 10:00.
Today, the 476 was on the 8 freight cars with caboose 0540. The 473 was in charge of the 4 coaches and the Silver Vista. Run-by locations would feature both trains at least once with some of them having enough time for two runs of the passenger train as the 476 headed on to the next spot.
First off out of the gate was a few run-bys at the depot in Silverton. We waited just long enough for the sun to come from behind the neighboring mountains for specular light. After that, we drifted down grade hitting run-by spots all day. The morning light in the upper canyon was great to see, though the Silver Vista proved to be cold for the first few hours. We passed the Silverton train at Elk Park with the 493 and diesel 107 working it again. At Tacoma, we combined the trains together again for a combined run-by on the famous highline!
I got off at Rockwood to my waiting rental car for the chase back down into Durango. In Rockwood, the 476 took the freight cars and made a run for Durango with the 473 and the passenger cars and caboose following close behind. I was able to catch the passenger train at the CR 250 crossing and then turned to catch up with the freight. I found them scurrying through the valley making time to keep in front of the 493 and the passenger train. To complicate things, the 476 needed to drop off the drop bottom gondolas and flat cars of rail at Home Ranch siding. I pulled my car over and watched the switching operation. After the cars were dropped, 476 and the two box cars (with our luggage in them) continued on to Durango.
I proceeded directly to the Durango depot to watch the 476 hurry in and around the loop with the 473 and the passenger cars close behind. The yard crew and pulled 478 out and had her on the platform of the depot. The three surviving K-28s were quickly staged together for photos. The 473 then coupled on to the dead 478 and moved her out of the way just as the 493 came in with the daily train.
Tired after the long day, I went to the hotel making it there about 6:00pm. I cleaned up and enjoyed the 'cocktail' hour at the Best Western. The drinks weren't good but the price was right. I ran into a fellow railfan and ended up joining him and a few others from the train and some of the crew at Mi Ranchito for dinner. Not bad Mexican food but even better company. We closed the place down at 9:30pm. Most of the group were going to continue to a bar but I ducked out with a flight in order for the next day. It was about 11:00pm before I was out.
Today, the 476 was on the 8 freight cars with caboose 0540. The 473 was in charge of the 4 coaches and the Silver Vista. Run-by locations would feature both trains at least once with some of them having enough time for two runs of the passenger train as the 476 headed on to the next spot.
First off out of the gate was a few run-bys at the depot in Silverton. We waited just long enough for the sun to come from behind the neighboring mountains for specular light. After that, we drifted down grade hitting run-by spots all day. The morning light in the upper canyon was great to see, though the Silver Vista proved to be cold for the first few hours. We passed the Silverton train at Elk Park with the 493 and diesel 107 working it again. At Tacoma, we combined the trains together again for a combined run-by on the famous highline!
I got off at Rockwood to my waiting rental car for the chase back down into Durango. In Rockwood, the 476 took the freight cars and made a run for Durango with the 473 and the passenger cars and caboose following close behind. I was able to catch the passenger train at the CR 250 crossing and then turned to catch up with the freight. I found them scurrying through the valley making time to keep in front of the 493 and the passenger train. To complicate things, the 476 needed to drop off the drop bottom gondolas and flat cars of rail at Home Ranch siding. I pulled my car over and watched the switching operation. After the cars were dropped, 476 and the two box cars (with our luggage in them) continued on to Durango.
I proceeded directly to the Durango depot to watch the 476 hurry in and around the loop with the 473 and the passenger cars close behind. The yard crew and pulled 478 out and had her on the platform of the depot. The three surviving K-28s were quickly staged together for photos. The 473 then coupled on to the dead 478 and moved her out of the way just as the 493 came in with the daily train.
Tired after the long day, I went to the hotel making it there about 6:00pm. I cleaned up and enjoyed the 'cocktail' hour at the Best Western. The drinks weren't good but the price was right. I ran into a fellow railfan and ended up joining him and a few others from the train and some of the crew at Mi Ranchito for dinner. Not bad Mexican food but even better company. We closed the place down at 9:30pm. Most of the group were going to continue to a bar but I ducked out with a flight in order for the next day. It was about 11:00pm before I was out.
