Posted on 07/07/2010 12:09:31 PM PDT by CedarDave
It seems to me it is a little farther between towns than what I’m used to, at least down here in the SE part. But coming over from Oregon we saw plenty of that. Harney County in SE Oregon is not much different from what we have seen since we got South of I-40 down here. Out in the middle of nowhere we saw two houses across the highway from one-another. My thought was I bet those neighbors know each other very well.
LOL likely so. And they may not like each other, but in a pinch, they will probably help each other. :)
After the disastrous trestle fire two weeks ago truncated the line four miles north of Chama, the RR has been scrambling to set up alternative trips. Last Thursday and Friday they loaded a steam engine, tender and at least seven passenger cars on trucks and hauled them to the top of Cumbres Pass by highway (BTW though the highway generally follows the tracks in that stretch, there is a 4-5 mile section where they go through dense forest and exit with great views of the valley below). The trip from Cumbres curves around Los Pinos valley and then disappears down the valley not to be seen again until Antonito 40-45 miles away.
I spent Sunday in Chama and rode the train to the big fireworks display at the south end of town. We were closer than most spectators and at the end the train whistled off, crossed the highway with lots of backed up cars and deposited us at the depot.
We should know tonight or by the end of the week whether the 120-year old iron and riveted trestle can be repaired (a matter of weeks) or needs complete replacement with a modern structure which will take up to two years to finish with design, engineering, financing, permits (SHPO, EPA, NEPA, Army COE, etc.) and construction (April-October only due to winter conditions).
I didn’t know about the fire, sorry to hear that. I keep hoping they will have train service to Roswell so I can go visit my Dad, altho I know it will not happen. They have never even restarted the southern route since Katrina (from FL to El Houston).
Well CedarDave,
About now we just don’t need bad news and for Chama the R.R. is its lifeblood.
I’ll pray for all those shops and their employees.
Damn.
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