NG Circle Tour - 2010
August 21 - September 1
Trip Report
Day 4 - Tuesday, August 24
Old Hundred Mine & a Moonlight Ride from Durango
Silverton, Howardsville, Eureka, Rockwood, & Durango
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I've always been intrigued by the paranormal. But, being a Christian it's not something I believe in. In preparing for this trip I read that the Grand Imperial (the hotel where we stayed) was haunted... but I didn't think much about that when making the reservation...
At exactly 0300 an alarm clock went off. This was of particular interest since neither Michele nor I brought an alarm clock, had seen an alarm clock in the room, or had set one to go off in the middle of the night. We both stumbled out of bed and began searching for it. After a few moments we realized it was coming from the hallway outside of our room. Opening the door we found a table pushed against our door and piled high with potted plants and trees from the lobby. Buried in the middle of the plants was the clock. She looked at me and I looked at her... neither of us having any clue what the heck we were looking at! The floors creek so badly that a light breeze could be heard coming down that hallway. How in the world a table full plants was placed against our door without waking us defied explanation. I shut off the clock and then shoved the table over enough to squeeze out of the room and the 2 of us moved everything back into the lobby... the floors howling in protest the whole time.
The next morning I explained the event to the manager. She then proceeded to tell me about the ghost. I let her go on for a moment and then pressed her for a real explanation. Was the cleaning crew cleaning in the middle of the night? Was there a maintenance issue that required moving furniture and then someone forgot to put it back?
Again she stated, "I don't know, it must have been the ghosts." My Marine Corps training kicked in at that point and I let her know that I was completely unsatisfied with her answer and that if the "ghosts" returned that night that she'd better be ready for a fight. I don't like getting up in the middle of the night when I don't have to... ghosts or no ghosts.
So, we went about our day and upon returning that evening I asked the night manager the same set of questions I had asked the day manager. He started to give me the same answer so I pushed back... and out popped the truth. Apparently some the D&S railroaders had been up late and one of them was rooming next to us. From there it was pretty easy to surmise that we were the unintended recipients of a practical joke.
No hard feelings though. I've been pranking my boss for 10 years and a LOT worse than this!
If one you D&S guys that were there that night ever read this PLEASE email me. I'd LOVE to hear the other side of this story. And don't worry, I'll never reveal who it was.
EMail: RioGrandeDude @ SmittysHouse.net (no spaces)
*Special thanks to D&S Brakeman/Fireman Jon Walden for some of the behind-the-scenes information posted here in this report. |
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Here are the plants, clock, and tables that were pushed against our door. I found them back in their appropriate places the next morning. Note that the alarm is still set for 3 o'clock. I made sure it was off, though. *Please don't adjust the color on your monitor. The walls really are Pepto Bismol pink! |
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Heading north from Silverton |
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Leaving Silverton, we headed north towards Howardsville and the "Old Hundred" mine. We had heard from friends (thanks Everett) how pretty the terrain was up there, but WOW... it's awesome!! |
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The "Old hundred" mine was named for a Protestant Hymn |
We rode a narrow gauge train into the bore about a half a mile. |
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Our guide demonstrated several techniques for drilling rock, both ancient and modern. |
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This elevator to move between levels. |
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Here's an example of what a wall would look like with holes drilled and loaded with dynamite prior to detonation. |
Looking deeper into the mine where tourists aren't allowed. |
The water flowing out is crystal clear. |
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Demonstrating the "mucker" |
"Tommyknockers" |
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Once again, this area is stunningly beautiful! Someday we're going back with either horses or 4-wheelers! |
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This little guy was very friendly. But, we were sure to stay out of spitting-distance. |
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Our next stop was Eureka. Hopefully, someday in the not-so-distance future, there will be rails once again running from Silverton to Eureka. I wanted to see it before that happened. |
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End of the line for us at Eureka. In hindsight (after having made the trip to Alpine Tunnel) I bet we could have made it to Animas Forks quite easily. But, at the time I chose the safer option and turned around. |
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The long-abandoned Silverton Northern grade. Hopefully one day the 315 will be running here! |
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Back in Silverton |
We got lunch while Train 462 (with K36 #480 on point) was preparing to leave. |
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On the way down to Durango to catch the night train, we stopped at Rockwood. This was my first opportunity to do this. |
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Here's the main reason for the visit to Rockwood: the stub switch still in use on the tail of the wye! |
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End of the tail |
We caught up to Train 462 south of Hermosa |
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Before boarding we grabbed some chow at the Purple Haze Pub near the depot. While there #482 did some switching. The view was pretty cool, the food was great, and the wait staff was SUPERB!! ---- In the cab of 486 is Steve Otten (D&S Chief Engineer) and Fireman Jon Walden. They are putting the engine on what was the 461/462 consist and bringing it around to the platform for boarding (night train) prior to the arrival of the 464. |
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Train 464 arriving in Durango |
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Brakeman Sean Kirk. Sean is a fellow Marine! |
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I'm a big fan of this lighting effect, normally called "storm light." Michele took several photos from the train as we headed north from Durango. |
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Extra 473 South |
473 had been out with the Eureka this day as the chase train. The Eureka was left at Needleton with her fire dropped and her crew out camping while the 473 took the combined trains back to Durango. ---- This is Mike May (Engineer) and Pete Mech (Fireman) on the 473. Pete is wearing the black kromer. |
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Rockwood |
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The High Bridge |
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A cold and lonely Eureka on the Needleton Siding. |
There's something remarkably magical about a steam locomotive headlight leading the way into the night... |
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The train was backed into the wye at Cascade and I hiked out to the end and took these shots of the parlor car WITHOUT my tripod. |
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The red glow from the open firebox doors lights up the steam plume! |
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On the train we met Cody & Casey, "the Texans" with the infamous reputation for getting their truck stuck on the C&T RoW several years ago. But, don't let that rep fool you. Cody and Casey are great guys with a real love for the D&S and C&T. We also met (again) Sam Seiber and his mom from Denver. All three guys are active posters on the NGDF and we had a really good time hanging out with them. It's been a long time since I laughed all night like that. Thanks guys! Looking forward to next time.
We returned to Durango around midnight thoroughly satisfied and exhausted. Because of the "ghost" incident the night before we hadn't had much sleep and now, due to poor planning on my part, we had to make the trek back to Silverton in the middle of the night. Do you know what else likes to be on the road in the mountains in the middle of the night? DEER! Lots of them!
It was SLOOOW going to get back there safely. I think Michele counted 9 deer and 1 rabbit either on the road or near it. Once we were north of Hermosa we didn't see a single vehicle on the road. It was lonely, but very pretty with the full moon casting its glow on the mountains!
We made it back safely. The ghost did not return that night. |
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