Colorado Adventure - Trains Seen Along the Way

As most of you know, I am quite the train and railroad enthusiast. (We call ourselves "railfans", like "sportsfans".) I had plenty of opportunities to see trains on the way to and from Colorado, as well as in Colorado. For the most part the trains I saw were from the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroad, travelling along US 287 in Texas. But, I also had the chance to stop and take some photographs at two significant locations.

Two BNSF locomotives along US 287 - one in the New BNSF paint scheme, the other in the old Santa Fe scheme.

Two new BNSF locomotives traverse southern Colorado, near Trinidad.

One of these locations is significant to most every railfan - Raton Pass (here). Raton Pass is a "Meca" ("must visit") of the railfan's. Raton Pass is notable not only as being a major point on the Santa Fe Trail, but also as being the gateway (7834 ft) from New Mexico to Colorado on one of the old Santa Fe Railway's major raillines. This railline is still used frequently by the Santa Fe's successor - the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe RR.

"Red over Red" / Sun over Mountain - the Southern approach to Raton Pass on the BNSF RR.

Morning sun highlights two BNSF locomotives waiting for a new crew to pilot their train up and over the famed Raton Pass into Colorado.

The other location I mentioned is more significant to me than it would be to other 'fans. Alamosa, CO. is the home of the St. Luis & Rio Grande Railroad. A friend and pen-pal of mine for about 4 years, who worked for a railroad in Dallas, the late Jim Bradley, helped to start-up this railroad a couple of years prior to his death from cancer in 2005. He told me about his experiences running long freight trains across the varying topography of that part of Colorado - from prairie to steep passes and back again. Encounters with bears and elk and deer on the tracks, as well as slippery rails from heavy snow fall made for an exciting story for me to hear about, and I'm sure and even more interesting experience for him. It was neat to be able to see up close the area he worked on for a few months during the time I knew him.

The SLRG's Steam locomotive (used for passenger excusion trains) sitting in the Alamosa Yard.

One of the SLRG diesel locomotives

This machine is very useful in Coolorado. Don't see them too often in Texas, not enough snow.

Beautiful! A Southern Pacific locomotive, snow, mountains and it's in Colorado! What more could a railfan ask for?

The railroad workers get the passenger cars ready for the Polar Express winter excursion train. Rumor was that Santa was to take a ride on the train!

The view from the eastern end of the Alamosa Yard.

The employees at the yard were friendly and kind enough to allow me to walk around the yard amongst the equipment in order to get these photos. This is fairly normal for a smaller railroad like this, but pretty rare for a large(r) railroad such as the BNSF. I enjoyed this unique opportunity.

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Colorado Adventure - Majestic Beauty

As my Grandpa likes to say about taking photos in Colorado, "...all you have to do is set your camera on the timer mode, and throw it up in the air... you cannot not have a good photo." (paraphrase) In other words, Colorado is so beautiful you really don't have to be a good photographer to take pretty pictures there.

Thanksgiving Day - Mule Deer were all over the place in Lake City. We saw four deer (a buck, two does and a fawn) grazing in the yard of a house which had a camouflaged four-wheeler and a camo hunting truck! I bet that was one frustrated hunter!

Capitol City (Ghost Town) on Engineer Pass

"Lake City Silver Mines" (Ghost Town) on Engineer Pass

Chunks of ice float down a rocky river on Engineer Pass

Horses on Henson Pass

Snowy Lake Fork of the Gunnison River on Henson Pass

Un-named Mountain on Henson Pass

Joel on a scenic over look on Henson Pass with an un-named peak in background (I'm suggesting we name it Joel's Peak)

Cloudy Vale on Henson Pass

Meandering river on Henson Pass

Crooked Fence

Snowy Beaver Dam

Icy River

Mountain Log Chapel

Sunset over the San Juans

Colorado in the 1940's. Well, okay, just a doctored picture.
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These are just the best of the best of the nature photos I took. Hope you enjoyed them.

Colorado Adventure - Sights Seen On the Return Trip

Service Station (perhaps the one and only) in Lake City, CO. Gas here was around $0.40 - $0.60 higher than in the Dallas area.

Snowy Cliffs

A snowy Uncompaghre Peak seen from Windy Point

Joel on Windy Point again - this time with about 5 inches of snow. Even though the temperature was in the lower 30's, because the sun was shining and there was no wind, I was just fine in this attire.

Snowcovered Alpines on Windy Point

Headwaters of the Rio Grande

The Creede, CO. Volunteer Fire Department Garage - Built into the side of a mountain!

Mining Museum (built into the side of a mountain) in Creede, CO.

Rugged Beauty - Creede, CO.

See the old mine buildings nestled amongst the high craggy mountains? Creede, CO.

Even a light snowfall can significantly change the appearance of the landscape.

The Hungry Logger Restaurant in South Fork, CO. We stopped here for lunch on Saturday on the way home. I enjoyed a tasty Elk burger and baked potato. I had wanted to get a Grizzly (Bear) burger, but they didn't have any Grizzly at that time.

The Hungry Logger!

The Southern end of the snowcapped Sangre De Christo (Blood of Christ) Mountains. (Between Alamosa and Walsenburg, CO.)

The (Big) Texan Steak Ranch Restaurant, Gift Shop and Hotel - Amarillo, Tx. - Home of the FREE 72oz. Steak. (Free if you eat it, and all the trimmings, in under 60 minutes... Not many people are able to.) We spent the night at the Hotel on Saturday night, and had a country-style breakfast in the Restaurant on Sunday morning before leaving for home on the final day of our adventure.

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That concludes my report. I had as much fun taking these pictures as I did anything else on the trip. I also have enjoyed the opportunity to share them with you. Hope you have enjoyed viewing them.

Happy 5th Birthday Jaden!

Today is Jaden's 5th birthday. Yes, five years ago, he was born here at home. It seems like a long time ago, and yet not so long. I have been sort of a "surrogate" mother to him for much of his life, because of some difficulties. I have a very special relationship with Jaden. Sometimes, I feel as if I'm his Mom, rather than Mom.

Hey buddy, I hope you get feeling better, and that you can enjoy your cake & ice-cream soon! I love you very much and am sorry that you don't feel your best. :( If you could, keep him in your prayers right now. He started running a fever of 101, this evening.

May the Creator bless you & keep you. And may He make His face to shine down upon you and give you peace.

Happy 5th Jaden!

We love you!

Dad, Mom, Joel, Abby, Caleb, Phoebe & Johanna

Submission

Submission

Florence M. Williams

I dare not question God's

own will.

His plan devine for me.

Though I have wishes and desires,

from self I must be free.

Real happiness we can't attain

by having our own way.

Surrender to His perfect will

Will brighten any day.

Has your heart yearned for

something grand

You thought would bring you peace?

Then ask the Lord to answer prayer.

I found this lovely little poem a long time ago. I don't believe it is the complete version, but the above is all I have. I copied it several years ago, and thought it quite profound. The ending could go something like this: and all your restless stirrings cease.

My New Mandolin!

Yours truly with "Dixie" the mandolin.

"Dixie" with her case.

Here is a picture of a mandolin that I just purchased yesterday.

It is a very beautiful instrument, and (supposedly) pretty sturdy. The brand name is Kentucky. It also came with a very nice HARD case (well, I had to pay extra, but not much!) I know a handful of chords and still have a whole book of chords I can learn...right at my finger tips! Yesterday, I was on the computer looking for mandolin chords, and hand copying some I had found, when my kind brother, Caleb, came into the room. Guess what he had? He had a mandolin chord chart book! I wasn't really paying attention to what was happening in the room, but several of my siblings were gathering. Also, when Caleb was handing the book to me, Abby had to take a video [15 second longs] of me! Ah...I dislike being on tape. But that is history. Caleb was originally going to give the book to me for Christmas, but he decided to give it to me early (probably because he saw how excited I was!). What loving and kind brothers and sisters I have! Anyway, I now have a mandolin & a book to help me learn the chords! I'm pretty excited about it, too. I've been daydreaming about "what I could do when I learn how to play the mandolin"!

Well that is probably enough for now.

Phoebe

P.S. Right at this very moment, I am listening (in the background) to Johanna plink around on my mandolin, in our room. I think all of us are pretty excited! (Especially me!) Joel even showed somewhat of an interest in learning to play. :)