Chris, obviously I agree with what you say, but I wouldn't want your post to be
misinterpreted to mean that the spectacular stuff on the D&S lasts only a half
hour or less. It's true that the Animas gorge, where you're on that narrow
shelf blasted out of rock (justly famous and the most photographed section on
the RR) is relatively brief, but once you get north of Rockwood (the last 2/3
of the route), everything is beautiful and isolated ? some of the best mountain
scenery in the Colorado Rockies. The whole upper canyon, the roaring river
surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks is absolutely stunning, even if (or maybe
because) the railroad is down at river level. Disneylandishness
notwithstanding, the D&S still should be on every rail fan's to-do list, ... at
some point in their life.
Jonathan
--- In CBQ@yahoogroups.com, Chris Atkins <tcatkins@...> wrote:
>
> I guess I'll also throw my hat in for the Cumbres and Toltec. Someone
> once described Chama to me as being like Durango in the 60s. I love
> staying in the hotel across from the station and spending the morning,
> as the sun comes up, wandering around the yard, shooting the crews as
> they get the equipment ready for another day. Everyone is completely
> welcoming. I've always opted to take the train up Cumbres Pass from
> Chama and take the buss back in the evening, or change trains at lunch
> and return to Chama by train.
>
> The Friends of the CATS is also a real treasure. So many structures and
> pieces of equipment would be lost to time if it weren't for they
> Friends' volunteer preservation effort. By contrast, I've always felt
> that if it didn't make money for the D&S, it wasn't worth saving. The
> Water towers and coaling facilities are a great example.
>
> By contrast, the Disney Land like experience of the trip from Durango to
> Silverton is nice to do once, but the spectacular canyon scenery in all
> the photos lasts less than 30 minutes. Because of it's popularity,
> everything in Durango is fenced off and most of the relics are long
> gone. The town itself is a lot shinier than Chama.
>
> I've done them both back to back, which is where I learned what my
> wife's limitations are regarding steam trains. ;-)
>
> Have fun,
>
> Chris Atkins
> Lewisville, TX
>
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