Album Non-Backcountry Photos

[Rockskipper]

That’s gorgeous!

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Only a true railfan would find coal cars gorgeous.

OK, one last one - this is the Livingston rail yard with a coal car in front of the old historic train station on the left (where the tourists for Yellowstone would get off) and the historic Murray Hotel behind (where Sam Peckinpah lived and shot holes in the walls).

 

[Outdoor_Fool]

The Murray!!!!

First time through Livingston was on a Burlington Northern freight headed to Seattle. I originated in Cheyenne and jumped off in Tacoma. Best freight ride ever. Still have lots of memories of that trip.

 

[Rockskipper]

You hopped a freight? Respect!

My college roomie had that on her bucket list and rode from Denver to Grand Junction. I wanted to go but was too chicken. She's now an attorney in Oregon. She's like you, said it was a best memory ever.

 

[Outdoor_Fool]

You hopped a freight? Respect!

My college roomie had that on her bucket list and rode from Denver to Grand Junction. I wanted to go but was too chicken. She's now an attorney in Oregon. She's like you, said it was a best memory ever.

It was something a friend and I were into for a few years. Ended up with 15 - 20 trips, traveling through 17 states, and riding over 10,000 miles.
But the Cheyenne - Tacoma trip was by far the best of all. I also had my 5-month old pup with me.

 

[zionsky]

I used to ride the Silverton-Durango train about once a year, but not real happy with them since they started the big fire down there last summer. It's sure a neat train, though.

I would have given them 5 stars BUT our train derailed as we were coming back to Durango. The conductor had just come thru the car to tell us we would be slowing down in a few minutes because we were approaching a section of track that has just been repaired. We didn't even make it to that section! No sooner then he left our car it started to shake violently. That was followed by loud scraping metal sounds and 2 steel chain hooks holding the passageway between cars together popping and flying back into our car. Luckily they didn't hit anybody. After a minute or so of this we came to a hard stop followed by a big cloud of dust rushing thru the front door of the car. Fortunately the car didn't tip over as the track ran along a ridge about 30 feet above the animas river. Going down that embankment would have been bad!

This is from the door of our car - we should be centered over the track

We were not far from town but not near a road so we ended up walking back the track about a quarter mile to a road where several buses came and picked everyone up. The first couple of buses were nice motor coaches. The one we rode back to town in was a converted 1970s school bus adorned with lots of interesting artwork from folks who were probably in altered states of consciousness .

 

[Rockskipper]

I would have given them 5 stars BUT our train derailed as we were coming back to Durango. The conductor had just come thru the car to tell us we would be slowing down in a few minutes because we were approaching a section of track that has just been repaired. We didn't even make it to that section! No sooner then he left our car it started to shake violently. That was followed by loud scraping metal sounds and 2 steel chain hooks holding the passageway between cars together popping and flying back into our car. Luckily they didn't hit anybody. After a minute or so of this we came to a hard stop followed by a big cloud of dust rushing thru the front door of the car. Fortunately the car didn't tip over as the track ran along a ridge about 30 feet above the animas river. Going down that embankment would have been bad! View attachment 77451

This is from the door of our car - we should be centered over the trackView attachment 77452

We were not far from town but not near a road so we ended up walking back the track about a quarter mile to a road where several buses came and picked everyone up. The first couple of buses were nice motor coaches. The one we rode back to town in was a converted 1970s school bus adorned with lots of interesting artwork from folks who were probably in altered states of consciousness . View attachment 77454

Well, that one sure didn't make the news. Wow. Great photos! That's the first I've ever heard of it derailing. LOL on the bus. Durango's a pretty laid-back town.

 

[zionsky]

I'm just glad it happened as we were close to town. I can't imagine derailing above midway or the water tank. You'd be up there awhile before help could arrive.

 

[gnwatts]

A few shots along I70 in Glenwood Canyon.

 

[Rockskipper]

Did a little train chasing this morning. I believe these are Boeing 737s from the Spirit AeroSystems plant in Wichita, Kansas on their way to Renton, WA for wings. They used to bring them through in bunches until they had a derail into the Clark Fork RIver, which was quite expensive. @Perry @Outdoor_Fool @zionsky

 

[Perry]

Well, there's something you don't see everyday.

 

[b.stark]

I've seen some aircraft fuselages on the railway that follows Highway 2 across central Nebraska. Apparently a common route for them.

When they began building the wind farm just to the west of my place, several trains of wind turbine blades were hauled in on a railway. Impressive to see. Can't seem to dig up any pictures, they were on my old phone, and now may be buried on a HD on a different computer somewhere.

 

[Rockskipper]

Well, there's something you don't see everyday.

Actually, one report I read said they ship around 45/month, but it probably depends on the economy. I see them quite often here, but they're usually gone before I can get photos. This train was sitting waiting for helper engines for Bozeman Pass. But you have to be on the route between Renton and Wichita to see them, for sure.

 

[zionsky]

Are those the max 8s?

 

[Rockskipper]

Are those the max 8s?

Yeah, maybe this should be in the Close Calls thread.

But not sure.

 

[Perry]

For those who may not know about this ambitious restoration project: Big boy 4014 lives!

http://

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[Rockskipper]

I heard a couple of years ago that this was in the Cheyenne yards, but I'd kind of forgotten about it. It has the most beautiful whistle I've ever heard. Thanks for posting!

 

[Rockskipper]

Hey @Perry are you going to go see it when it gets nearby?

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

 

[Perry]

I heard a couple of years ago that this was in the Cheyenne yards, but I'd kind of forgotten about it. It has the most beautiful whistle I've ever heard. Thanks for posting!

That whistle gives me the shivers!


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[Perry]

Hey @Perry are you going to go see it when it gets nearby?

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

Oh yeah. The depot is 0.8 miles from my house.

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[Rockskipper]

You're SO lucky. And you can see it when it goes back through again. I'll be coming through SLC that same day from Idaho Falls. I'm going to try to meet up with it somewhere. What a sight! It's sure rocking the railfan world.