One of the more interesting groups of railfans are the ones that are into locomotive whistles and horns, the signaling devices used by engineers to communicate and warn the world outside his cab of what he's doing. An entire industry has grown around a collection of railfans who collect and, at times, sound off their affection for trains.
Showing posts with label Opinion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Opinion. Show all posts
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Hear That Whistle Blow
Tags:
Amtrak,
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
Durango and Silverton,
history,
Opinion,
Preservation,
steam,
web videos
Monday, May 23, 2011
Durango Looks Great This Summer
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, headquartered in Durango, Colorado, is offering a rare deal for vacationers this summer and has several events planned. Durango, a town that's never really shed it's wild west image, is an amazing place to fall in love with narrow gauge, steam railroading. It's worth the travel time to get there, and if you're really brave, you'll bring your camera but leave your laptop and smartphone charging at home. Unplugging with only a hotel phone for emergencies may be the 2011 way of "roughing it," for some folks. I know that for me, doing so would certainly add to the old west, frontier feel!
Tags:
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
Durango and Silverton,
Events,
Featured Tips,
heritage railroad,
narrow gauge,
Opinion,
Trains Magazine
Location:
Durango, CO, USA
Friday, May 20, 2011
DUSPA To Resume Walking Tours This Summer
From the semi-autonomous Denver Union Station Project Authority's newsletter for May 2011,
The Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA) once again will be conducting free walking tours of the Denver Union Station redevelopment site this summer. The tours will be held at 4:30 p.m., starting on Thursday, May 19, 2011, and continuing on the first and third Thursdays of the month through September. The one-hour tour will depart from the main entrance of the historic station on Wynkoop Street.
Tags:
Amtrak,
Commuter Rail,
Denver Union Station,
Events,
Light Rail,
Opinion,
passenger,
Restoration,
RTD
Location:
LoDo, Denver, CO, USA
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
You Forgot Your What!?
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad recently completed Railfest 2010, and the fans have some pretty unique souvenirs for their money. I found this picture while browsing their Railfest photo gallery. I've seen worse, but I think most folks would agree that when a person is giving a whistle demonstration at said Railfest, it's important--nay, crucial that they bring adequate ear protection. Regardless, the show, or the demonstration, must go on.
Tags:
Durango and Silverton,
Events,
museums,
narrow gauge,
Opinion,
Preservation,
steam
Location:
Durango, CO, USA
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Cumbres & Toltec Buses Passengers Between Chama & Cumbres
Tags:
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
general transportation,
heritage railroad,
history,
narrow gauge,
Opinion,
passenger,
Preservation,
steam
Location:
Cumbres, CO, USA
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Gorge Train Continues Self-Imposed Suspension of Operations
As of 6:00 PM yesterday, the Parkdale Canyon fire is considered 100% contained, although smoldering fires and underground hot spots still remain. Instead of resuming train operations this morning as anticipated, the Royal Gorge Route railroad has voluntarily continued its self-imposed moratorium until the owners are sure that the route is safe to continue without risking a repeat of Monday. In a statement released today, owner Mark Greska, said,
Tags:
Fire,
heritage railroad,
MOW,
Opinion,
passenger,
Royal Gorge,
Tennessee Pass Route,
wildfire
Location:
Canon City, CO, USA
Friday, June 25, 2010
Royal Gorge Route Temporarily Closed By Wildfire
The Parkdale Canyon fire posted yesterday is 85% contained with full containment expected by tomorrow (Sat). The fire started Monday just after noon, with some witnesses claiming the flames started shortly after the Royal Gorge Route passed nearby on it's 12:30 p.m. run.
Location:
Canon City, CO, USA
Monday, June 14, 2010
Flag Day - Colorado's Star
This isn't directly related to railroads, but with today being Flag Day, I thought it would be appropriate and a little interesting to look at the flag when Colorado's star was added . It was first used on July 4, 1877, the first Independence Day after Colorado's admission into the Union.
Tags:
Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
history,
narrow gauge,
Opinion,
Union Pacific
Location:
Union Station, Denver, CO, USA
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Chama's Morning Show & Steam School
It's no secret that during the summer, Chama, New Mexico, has the best morning show around, especially when they have a K-36 Mikado like C&TS #484 lined for Cumbres Pass and Colorado. This video pretty much proves it. Doesn't she look great with the flying Grande on her tender?
Tags:
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
Featured Tips,
narrow gauge,
Opinion,
Preservation,
steam,
web videos
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Hits 40, Offers Discounts
This Memorial Day weekend typically signals the opening day for a lot of tourist and scenic railroads. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad has been settling in for a week already and has a number of events scheduled for this year. Along with the kids' Cinder Bear Express and the Wild West Trains, the C&TS is also planning celebrations of its 40th Anniversary of operations between their main facilities in Chama, New Mexico and their station at Antonito, Colorado. It looks like they are ready for this summer!
Location:
500 Terrace Ave, Chama, NM 87520, USA
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
UP Retires ex-Rio Grande Tunnel Motors To Dead Line At Burnham
It was bound to happen. With a continued lack of demand because of the recession, old locomotives that have seen their share of railroad miles are rounded up and sent via "funeral train" to a retirement storage, known as a "dead line." Intrepid photographer Kevin Morgan chased a funeral train on April 17, 2010. This time it seems to be a large
percentage of tunnel motors that had been marked for retirement, with 17 out of 21 (81%) being SD40T-2s. The train continued on to the dead line at Burnham.
percentage of tunnel motors that had been marked for retirement, with 17 out of 21 (81%) being SD40T-2s. The train continued on to the dead line at Burnham.
Tags:
BNSF,
Colorado Railroad Museum,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
extras,
Kevin Morgan,
museums,
Opinion,
Preservation,
Union Pacific
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Mudhen 463 Still Under Restoration
It's been a while since we've checked on Engine 463. In fact, we've not seen much on 463 since the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad won the grant to begin work on restoration. Now, according to the Friends, we hear that restoration continues on D&RGW Locomotive 463, also known as Gene Autry's Mudhen. It is one of two surviving K-27 class locomotives originally 15 strong in the D&RGW roster, numbered 450 to 464.
Tags:
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
history,
narrow gauge,
Opinion,
Preservation,
Restoration,
steam
Friday, April 2, 2010
State Lawmakers Kick Coal When Its Down
Not only could this bill passed by our wonderful, Democratic state senate cut coal miners in our state, but also cost more railroad jobs when we're already in a massive recession. According to the Association of American Railroads, ton-mile volumes in 2009 dropped 15% compared to the same month 2008. Only 1938 and 1949 rival such a decline. "And that's compared to 2008, not exactly a stellar year itself," according to Roy Blanchard in Trains Magazine, (May 2010 pg 6). Further research with AAR reveals that nationally, February's coal carloads dropped 10% when compared with February last year.
Clearly, our lawmakers have an impeccable sense of timing.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
With No TIGER, SL&RG Weighs Its Options
It was a pleasure to read a letter to the Alamosa Valley Courier today regarding the San Luis & Rio Grande. A doting grandmother who lives in the San Luis Valley recounted her trip with her grandchildren on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad from last fall. I too have taken that trip, and like her, I am worried that the SL&RG's denial of TIGER funds will prevent the valley from prospering.
Tags:
freight,
MOW,
Opinion,
passenger,
Rio Grande Scenic Railroad,
San Luis and Rio Grande,
Union Pacific
Monday, February 8, 2010
GM Soni Honegger Resigns From Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR
Soni Honegger, a talented and resourceful man of steam, has resigned from his position as General Manager of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Honegger came to the position November 1, 2008, amid praise for his skillful resourcefulness. At that point, he had worked with the C&TS for nearly 9 years after serving with Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railroad and the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Ski Train Dates Canceled With Judge's Decision
The Grinch showed up right on time. Now, the Ski Train's 70th season is very much in doubt. Trains will not run until at least January 6th, and even that is highly unlikely.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
How Amtrak Stole Denver's Ski Train
Tags:
Amtrak,
Denver and Rio Grande Western,
Denver Union Station,
history,
Moffat Route,
Opinion,
Original Artwork,
passenger,
Rio Grande Scenic Railroad,
Ski Train,
Union Pacific
Friday, December 18, 2009
McFadyen Suggests Tennessee Pass Be Re-opened
It's hard for anyone to take a name like Buffie McFadyen seriously, but since she's a State Representative, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter had to take her seriously when she asked him to pressure Union Pacific to reopen the Tennessee Pass line.
Tags:
MOW,
Opinion,
Tennessee Pass Route,
Union Pacific
Friday, December 11, 2009
Derailment At Coal Creek Canyon Closes Highway 72
Derailments are as old as railroading and minor incidents seldom are newsworthy. There is the exception, and this certainly qualifies. An empty freight train derailed 8 cars while crossing the overpass of Colorado Highway 72 at the entrance to Coal Creek Canyon in Jefferson County, dropping a hopper car onto the highway below. No injuries on the train or highway were reported.
Tags:
derailment,
freight,
Moffat Route,
Opinion,
Union Pacific
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Boulder Dinner Train
Could Boulder support a dinner train?
That's the question I find myself asking as I contemplate this announcement by RTD covered in the Denver Post. RTD is hoping to lease the remaining trackage and right-of-way left over from the purchase of a former UP line for FasTracks. The agency volunteering to take up this lease is the Boulder County Railway Historical Society, which of late, lost it's web site, www.boulderrail.org. They do have rolling stock, mostly freight and in various states of repair. Would such an agency be able to handle the demand? Would instead the folks at the Royal Gorge or the Rio Grande & San Luis be more qualified and better equipped? A lot of gears are turning. Let's hope something good and railworthy results!
That's the question I find myself asking as I contemplate this announcement by RTD covered in the Denver Post. RTD is hoping to lease the remaining trackage and right-of-way left over from the purchase of a former UP line for FasTracks. The agency volunteering to take up this lease is the Boulder County Railway Historical Society, which of late, lost it's web site, www.boulderrail.org. They do have rolling stock, mostly freight and in various states of repair. Would such an agency be able to handle the demand? Would instead the folks at the Royal Gorge or the Rio Grande & San Luis be more qualified and better equipped? A lot of gears are turning. Let's hope something good and railworthy results!
Tags:
Commuter Rail,
heritage railroad,
Opinion,
passenger,
Rio Grande Scenic Railroad,
Royal Gorge,
RTD,
San Luis and Rio Grande,
Union Pacific
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