To round out an amazing trip to Narrow gauge Country, I bought a ticket on the Cinco Animas. I figured it would be nice, but it exceeded my expectations. The only downside to the D&S is the lack of view from the coaches. But, riding in the Parlour Car nicely solved that problem. The view from the back platform can not be beat! Plus, there's plenty of room to get up and walk around.

After settling in the nice plush chair, I started chatting with the family that boarded after me. It turns out that 7 of the 12 people in the back half of the car were Marines (including me, of course). Small world! 

Please let me know if you find mistakes - RioGrandeDude  @ SmittysHouse.net

The Cinco Animas awaits passengers in the crisp, cool morning air of Durango Yard

My seat for the day (left)

The view from my chair

Departing Durango

Animas River - MP 452.4

New Wye - MP 456.85

New Wye - MP 456.85

Home Ranch Siding

MP 457.25

We stopped at Hermosa for water (a rare treat) and chatted with a MOW crew

Our attendant (Ellie) handed down a bag of donuts for the guys

Hermosa Creek - MP 462.45

Leaving the MOW guys behind

Crossing US 550 - MP 462.7

Airline seats onboard the new car "Knight Sky." The design of the car was inspired by the famous "Silver Vista"

About here I spotted a line side fire and told the Brakeman. He informed the Conductor who then called the Dispatcher who then notified the Fire Patrol that was trailing the train

No idea...

Aboard the Cinco Animas

Pinkerton Siding - MP 465.7

Crossing US 550 - MP 467

Shalona Lake

Rockwood - MP 469.1

Rockwood Cut - 469.2

The HIGH LINE - MP469.5

Animas River

You certainly can't see views like this from a coach!

The High Bridge - MP 471.2

Telegraph pole still standing

You simply can't beat the view from the rear platform!

Tacoma - MP 472.3

The newly rebuilt

"Tacoma Depot"

Former D&RGW rolling stock slowly falls apart on Tacoma Siding. Very sad.

Ah! Wilderness - MP 474

Brakeman guards the rear at Tank Creek - MP 474.6

More donuts for the Fire Patrol

Tank Creek - MP 474.6

Flag Stop at Tall Timber

Tall Timer Resort and it's helicopter

I'll bet it's absolutely tranquil out here at night. What a place to live!

Cascade Canyon Wye - MP 477.5

Tefft Bridge - MP 477.75

One of the MANY fire-breaks that the D&S MOW crews have constructed recently

View from my chair

Bitter Root Mine

MP 479.5

MP ~481.8

MP ~481.8

Needleton Siding - MP 484

Needleton Tank - MP 484.4

We dropped off 2 Amtrak Railroaders here for a ride on the pop car. This was a professional courtesy...

and quite a perk!

Needleton Tank - MP 484.4

Site of the BIG SLIDE in 2011 that shut the railroad down for a week and blocked the Animas

Site of the land slide in 2006 that Michele and I got caught in:  2006 Video Report

New & Old Bridges across the Animas - MP 489.85

Old mainline (now a spur) to the old through-truss bridge at MP 489.85

Telegraph Pole

Elk Park Wye - MP 490.5

Elk Park Siding - MP 490.7

WOW!

Crossing the Animas into Baker's Park - MP 495.25

Champion Mine

This guy met the train just after the Animas Crossing...

... and raced along side blowing an "Ah-woogaa" horn.

It's a helluva way to advertise!

Silverton Northern

Engine House

The Denver & Rio Grande Western Silverton Depot

LUNCH!!

Thee Pits Again

Best grub in Silverton!

The "Casey Jones" from the Silverton Northern

Inside Casey - Awfully cozy in there...

Train 463 Arriving

The smoke was from a wild

fire near Dolores

Silver Vista

Train 465 Arriving

D&S Fireman Jon Walden - I was hanging around hoping to get to chat with Jon.

Getting ready to back

down to the wye

Trains 463 and 465 arriving in Silverton

Train 462 (my train) getting to depart

Cinders

Chandelier aboard the

Cinco Animas

Leaving Silverton

Video Montage filmed from the rear platform of the Cinco Animas.

Part I

Taking water at Needleton

MP 484.4

WOW!

Video Montage filmed from the rear platform of the Cinco Animas.

Part II

Video Montage filmed from the rear platform of the Cinco Animas.

Part III

The world-renowned High Line

Rockwood Cut - MP 469.2

Rockwood - MP 469.1

East end of Rockwood Yard

Shalona Lake

This is the location of the fire I spotted that morning. There was a good-sized scorch mark, but the Fire Patrol got to it in time to prevent a big mess.

Video Montage filmed from the rear platform of the Cinco Animas.

Part IV

A parting shot..

I got back to the hotel in Carbon Junction exhausted! It's an 18 hour drive home from Durango, so I had to sleep fast and get up about 0200. Shortly before turning in I got a knock on the door. I opened it and was shocked to see one of Durango's finest (DPD) standing there. He asked if I was "Mr. Rose." I affirmed. He then asked if I'd hit a motorcycle in the parking lot. I think the dumb-founded look on my face answered his question before I spoke. It turns out that someone rear-ended and knocked over a bike in the parking lot and I was suspected because my truck has a dent in the rear fender. I assured the officer that it wasn't me and advised that he look more closely at that dent in my truck for signs of rust because it certainly wasn't a new one. He agreed to do so and bid me a goodnight.

Disaster averted, I called it a night.

I'd like to say that was my last run-in with law enforcement on this trip. But, it wasn't. A cop snagged me in Aztec doing 25 in a 15. Geez... is it really that big of a deal at 0230 in the morning?! But, he was kind. That is... until my scanner crackled to life with HIS dispatcher's voice! He asked me why I had a scanner and was scanning Police bands. I quickly figured I'd tell him the truth because it was crazier than any story I might come up with. And besides that, I'm a really bad liar. So, I told him that I use it to listen to railroads and the railroad in Aztec had been gone since 1968. So, I had the scanner set to scan all frequencies for anything that might be happening at 0230 in the morning. He looked at me like I was nuts, but let me go.

There are no pictures from the trip back to Spring because, frankly, I was too dang tired to care to take any. And besides, does anyone really care about eastern New Mexico and north Texas. It's BORING. However, the trip down to Albuquerque and Santa Fe was GORGEOUS at night. The sun didn't come up until I was near Glorieta, east of Santa Fe.

As soon as I got back I began pouring over the technical manuals to further familiar myself with the new network and camera hardware. I also began making plans to return in September to finish the project. It was a long summer of waiting...