Day 4 - Sunday 8/29/2021 - Side Trip to the Durango & Silverton and Some Night Shots
Having experienced several long days, I was torn what to do on Sunday. Not much was going on in Chama until the evening. I could stay in Chama and see the normal passenger train leave and climb to Cumbres with the 487 or head to Durango to see what action was going on there. I was really hopeful that I might be able to see Southern Pacific 4-6-0 #18 or at least the Durango & Silverton's K-37, 493, in action. So, I was up at 6:30am and out the door by 7:00am. I was headed to Durango to do a little chasing.
I arrived right at 9am and I stopped at the depot in Durango to use the bathroom and see what was going on. There were three trains a day running at this time. The 8:15am train and 9:00am train ran all the way to Silverton with the 9:45am train just going to Cascade Canyon and return. The first train, 8:15am, was diesel powered (one of the ex White Pass & Yukon ALCo's) with the other two powered by steam. I decided to head to the Durango library and catch the 9:00am train there. I chose this spot because if this train was to be double headed, the helper was being added there. I didn’t see a helper waiting for me but after waiting there 10 minutes, 480 came charging through with its train. At the time, the D&S was only running oil burners with only 473, 480, and 493 being converted. Southern Pacific 18 was also on hand to help out in a pinch. The 482 was in the shop being converted with rumors of 476 up next. Number 481 was to handle winter trains as a coal burner.
After watching the 480 roll by the Durango Library, I jumped on HW 550 and headed north for another spot to catch the 480. I drove all the way to Hermosa before turning back and settling on Hermosa Meadows Rd. I chose the Hermosa Meadows Rd crossing as it had a nice wide-open view of the 480 from the sunny side of the tracks. I then ran to Hermosa and caught the 480 rolling through there as well.
I then drove up the hill and thought about trying to find a spot on the hill to cut up to the tracks but in the heat of the moment, didn't find any. I then took CR 250 to the Shalona Lake crossing to see what was there but had already make my mind up to head back down the hill to catch the next train as it had to either have the 473 or 493 on it. Thus, ending my chase of the 480.
I arrived right at 9am and I stopped at the depot in Durango to use the bathroom and see what was going on. There were three trains a day running at this time. The 8:15am train and 9:00am train ran all the way to Silverton with the 9:45am train just going to Cascade Canyon and return. The first train, 8:15am, was diesel powered (one of the ex White Pass & Yukon ALCo's) with the other two powered by steam. I decided to head to the Durango library and catch the 9:00am train there. I chose this spot because if this train was to be double headed, the helper was being added there. I didn’t see a helper waiting for me but after waiting there 10 minutes, 480 came charging through with its train. At the time, the D&S was only running oil burners with only 473, 480, and 493 being converted. Southern Pacific 18 was also on hand to help out in a pinch. The 482 was in the shop being converted with rumors of 476 up next. Number 481 was to handle winter trains as a coal burner.
After watching the 480 roll by the Durango Library, I jumped on HW 550 and headed north for another spot to catch the 480. I drove all the way to Hermosa before turning back and settling on Hermosa Meadows Rd. I chose the Hermosa Meadows Rd crossing as it had a nice wide-open view of the 480 from the sunny side of the tracks. I then ran to Hermosa and caught the 480 rolling through there as well.
I then drove up the hill and thought about trying to find a spot on the hill to cut up to the tracks but in the heat of the moment, didn't find any. I then took CR 250 to the Shalona Lake crossing to see what was there but had already make my mind up to head back down the hill to catch the next train as it had to either have the 473 or 493 on it. Thus, ending my chase of the 480.
Driving back down the hill, I again chose the Hermosa Meadows Rd crossing as it turned out to be a good spot for the 9:00am train after all and I felt I was short on time. I didn't have to wait too long and I saw 473 coming with the 9:45am train to Cascade Canyon. I, again, made the run to Hermosa itself to see the 473 roll through and charge up the hill. I like this angle better than the one I chose for the 480 perviously.
I now had two options, either Rockwood or the Shalona Lake crossing I scouted earlier. I just decided to stick with Rockwood as it would be an interesting spot even after the 473 left. I got to Rockwood and picked a spot on the sunny side of the tracks. The 473 arrived and rolled through without stopping. The K-28 always looks right at home on the Silverton line!
I now had two options, either Rockwood or the Shalona Lake crossing I scouted earlier. I just decided to stick with Rockwood as it would be an interesting spot even after the 473 left. I got to Rockwood and picked a spot on the sunny side of the tracks. The 473 arrived and rolled through without stopping. The K-28 always looks right at home on the Silverton line!
Now that all of the trains have made it into the canyon and out or reach, I explored Rockwood a bit and then headed back down to Durango. I stopped by the depot to check out what was in the roundhouse museum. The 481 was outside on display and I was able to see the Southern Pacific 18 through the shop windows. I also caught a little glimpse of the 493 through a round house door so it does exist! The 486 and 478 were in the museum on display and I able to see 476 stored outside. Freshly painted ex-WP&Y 101 was also there with 476 outside the museum.
It was now almost noon so I picked up food in Durango and headed back to Chama. There was supposed to be all four historic locomotives lined up for a photo shoot in Chama at 4pm and I wanted to rest a bit before that happened.
It was now almost noon so I picked up food in Durango and headed back to Chama. There was supposed to be all four historic locomotives lined up for a photo shoot in Chama at 4pm and I wanted to rest a bit before that happened.
I made it back to Chama without issue, arriving 2:30 or so. I rested up in the room for an hour and then the whistles in the yard were too much. So the four engine line up was canceled as most of the crews were still recovering from the dinner train run with 168 and 425 from the night before, that went into the early morning hours.
The crews that were up, were working hard to fix the 168's eccentric rods that were damaged from the night before. They were hopeful she could be fixed in time for the overnight train to Antonito.
The Eureka (who’s owner Dan Murkoff actually didn’t travel with her due to illness) was sitting peacefully near the old section of the round house. Her fire was already dropped (I believe) and her time at the roundup was done. The 168 was in the shop and 425 was sitting near the coaches for the night train to Antonito. The Glenbrook was providing the action. Her crew were enjoying having all this space to run her on and was running her all over the yard for our enjoyment. I watched the Glenbrook shuffle through the yard for a while. Since the Eureka lead, it was neat seeing the Glenbrook by itself for a bit. She was eventually parked beside the Eureka and her crew posed for photos with her. It was also neat to see them adjust her oil light. That thing was dim! Slightly late at 5:20, the 487 rolled into Chama with the daily passenger train as well.
The crews that were up, were working hard to fix the 168's eccentric rods that were damaged from the night before. They were hopeful she could be fixed in time for the overnight train to Antonito.
The Eureka (who’s owner Dan Murkoff actually didn’t travel with her due to illness) was sitting peacefully near the old section of the round house. Her fire was already dropped (I believe) and her time at the roundup was done. The 168 was in the shop and 425 was sitting near the coaches for the night train to Antonito. The Glenbrook was providing the action. Her crew were enjoying having all this space to run her on and was running her all over the yard for our enjoyment. I watched the Glenbrook shuffle through the yard for a while. Since the Eureka lead, it was neat seeing the Glenbrook by itself for a bit. She was eventually parked beside the Eureka and her crew posed for photos with her. It was also neat to see them adjust her oil light. That thing was dim! Slightly late at 5:20, the 487 rolled into Chama with the daily passenger train as well.
I then went and got dinner and I had a fantasy football draft that evening that I did from the hotel. I was able to make it back to the yard by 9:00pm with the draft still going on. The night shoot that was supposed to happen, never materialized due to the 168 needing attention (maybe?).
An impromptu night shoot materialized around Paul Springowski (check out his Instagram). He had a rechargeable cinema light on a tripod that he used to light scenes with. It worked great for us to shoot with and he was happy let us shoot with the light it provided while he set it up for his shots. By the time I got there, they were with 168 at the ash pit. She was just released from the shop and was quickly being serviced. I quickly tried to get the hang of shooting with the cinema flood light with the, still new to me, Nikon Z5 and was fortunate to get a few keeps from the evening. I was able to get the hang of it eventually.
He had the light on the Eureka and Glenbrook earlier in the evening but now we followed 168 for a bit before settling around the depot capturing the 168 and 425 just before the left for the night run up to Cumbres. It was pretty magical watching those two steamers in the dark getting ready for their night run. The 487 was also on hand in case the 168 couldn’t go. The 487 would have helped the 425 to Cumbes then return to Chama in that case. A few of the younger C&TS employees also setup up their collection of switch stand lanterns which added to the ambiance in the yard.
An impromptu night shoot materialized around Paul Springowski (check out his Instagram). He had a rechargeable cinema light on a tripod that he used to light scenes with. It worked great for us to shoot with and he was happy let us shoot with the light it provided while he set it up for his shots. By the time I got there, they were with 168 at the ash pit. She was just released from the shop and was quickly being serviced. I quickly tried to get the hang of shooting with the cinema flood light with the, still new to me, Nikon Z5 and was fortunate to get a few keeps from the evening. I was able to get the hang of it eventually.
He had the light on the Eureka and Glenbrook earlier in the evening but now we followed 168 for a bit before settling around the depot capturing the 168 and 425 just before the left for the night run up to Cumbres. It was pretty magical watching those two steamers in the dark getting ready for their night run. The 487 was also on hand in case the 168 couldn’t go. The 487 would have helped the 425 to Cumbes then return to Chama in that case. A few of the younger C&TS employees also setup up their collection of switch stand lanterns which added to the ambiance in the yard.
Most of the people not on the train, chased the train up the hill where a stop at Cumbres allowed for more night photos. The 425 returned to Chama and the 168 took the train all the way to Antonito. I stuck around the yard and did a few night shots of the 484 and 487 as well as of the Eureka and Glenbrook using my Nikon speedlight instead of the chase up the hill. I probably should have chased up to Cumbres but it was late and all of the long days were catching up to me. As much as I wish I would have experienced more of the night run up the hill, just hanging out in the yard with the two 1875 victorian's was a pretty special experience.
