Day 4 - Wednesday 10/18/2023 - Chase the Daily Train and Travel Back Home
Woke up to my alarm at 7:00. I got ready, packed up and hit a little breakfast at the hotel all while listening to the whistles in the yard next door. About 8:00am, I checked out and headed to the depot. In trying to find a spot to park, I turned right on red and got pulled over. The officer let me off with a warning. I ended up paying $1 to park right across from the entrance of the D&S yard which is worth it. I watched the 493 and 473 come out and back down to the train. It was nice to see 473 taking diesel 107's place as helper today but the ALCO diesels are neat too.
I chased the passenger out of town, catching it behind the library first. I then got it at the event park wye and another crossing before going to Hermosa. At Hermosa, I parked at the crossing and walked up CR 201 to look down at the crossing as I was told that is what to do but I could have have drove up. It looks like plenty did and there were pull out spots there. I then went to CR 250, the Shalona Lake Crossing and caught the two engines really digging into the hill there. From there, I went to Rockwood just to see the train leave out (as I didn’t beat them there). I stopped and talked to a few fellow railfans and friends there before parting ways. I then headed back to Durango where I toured the museum again and hit the gift shop again for my friend Blake back home. I found a metered parking spot with time on it still so saved $1. I then shopped around a bit for fudge for the girls.
By now it was 12:05pm so I grabbed McD’s (save and quick travel food after all) and hit the road for ABQ. The drive was just over 3.5 hrs so I was running a bit late (20 min or so… darn fudge hunting). But I made it to ABQ just fine. Got gas and even though it took a while to find the rental car return, got to the actual airport at 4:10pm (even with the rental car shuttle). Security was very light in terms of lines. I grabbed a smoothie and got to the gate. Board was supposed to start at 4:35pm (see a bit late) but they started a bit late. All in all, the flight was 15 min behind its 5:05 departure but no biggie. Had a nice flight home to cap off an excellent trip!
I chased the passenger out of town, catching it behind the library first. I then got it at the event park wye and another crossing before going to Hermosa. At Hermosa, I parked at the crossing and walked up CR 201 to look down at the crossing as I was told that is what to do but I could have have drove up. It looks like plenty did and there were pull out spots there. I then went to CR 250, the Shalona Lake Crossing and caught the two engines really digging into the hill there. From there, I went to Rockwood just to see the train leave out (as I didn’t beat them there). I stopped and talked to a few fellow railfans and friends there before parting ways. I then headed back to Durango where I toured the museum again and hit the gift shop again for my friend Blake back home. I found a metered parking spot with time on it still so saved $1. I then shopped around a bit for fudge for the girls.
By now it was 12:05pm so I grabbed McD’s (save and quick travel food after all) and hit the road for ABQ. The drive was just over 3.5 hrs so I was running a bit late (20 min or so… darn fudge hunting). But I made it to ABQ just fine. Got gas and even though it took a while to find the rental car return, got to the actual airport at 4:10pm (even with the rental car shuttle). Security was very light in terms of lines. I grabbed a smoothie and got to the gate. Board was supposed to start at 4:35pm (see a bit late) but they started a bit late. All in all, the flight was 15 min behind its 5:05 departure but no biggie. Had a nice flight home to cap off an excellent trip!
