NG Circle Tour - 2010
August 21 - September 1
Trip Report
Day 1 - Saturday, August 21
Drive Day
Spring, Texas to Chama, New Mexico
(15 grueling hours)
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At 0330 my alarm went off. Normally this would suck, but this day would be the beginning of my longest, most thorough exploration of Narrow Gauge Country to date. Even so, it took some work to drag my butt out of bed and get rolling. My wife, Michele, had been up all night because she figured it would be easier to sleep in the truck on the way to Chama than try to get up at 3:30 in the morning. Even so, it took an hour and a half to get the truck loaded and put Houston in the rear-view mirror.
*I'd like to thank my mother-in-law, Mary, for house sitting and caring for the cats for two weeks. Without her doing this for us this trip never could have happened. THANK YOU!! |
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North Texas is pretty mind-numbing, but Michele didn't get to see it since she slept most of the way to Amarillo! Between Ft Worth and Amarillo Highway 287 runs parallel to a BNSF mainline and trains are frequent. West of Amarillo Interstate 40 runs along an abandoned Rock Island line to Tucumcari. |
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The terrain changes abruptly just east of the TX / NM border on I40. |
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West of Tucumcari a UP line comes into view. |
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SFS Yard in Santa Fe |
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Doesn't look like this spur will see use anytime soon! |
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This was once the ATSF/DRGW dual gauge yard and the southern end of the famed "Chili Line" of the D&RGW |
Former Rio Grande Depot
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Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Santa Fe Branch ("Chili Line") of the DRGW was located where the road is now. This church was a landmark on that line.
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Camel Rock. I've driven by this rock 6 times by myself and never noticed it. My observant wife pointed it out. |
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The Rio Grande crossing north of Santa Fe |
Woo Hoo!! We're getting close! |
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Truly, this is God's Country... |
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Abiquiu Reservoir |
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Almost there! |
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Dropping into Tierra Amarilla |
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After 15 hours on the road... our first look at Narrow Gauge Rails! |
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As we dropped into Chama at dusk, I could see the mountains in front us, smell the cool, fresh mountain air blowing in through the open window, and feel the growing anticipation of my first whiff of coal smoke...
After the requisite drive through the yard to take in the long-anticipated sights, sounds, and smells, we checked in at The Hotel and got some chow at Fosters. The fun part would begin the next day! |
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