Arboles was a water and station stop on the Denver & Rio Grande (Western). A Section House was once located here as well. The small town is located about Mile Post 405 on the old Rio Grande main line.

Today the pump house and water tank remain. The tank is unusual in that it's built out of the tender from DRGW #1603, a standard gauge 3-cylinder 4-8-2.

There are also two drop bottom gondolas on display about 100 yards north (railroad east) from the tank. A sign indicates that they're being maintained by a local Boy Scout troop. They've done a nice job.

"Watering" my truck at the Arboles Tank.

I had fun setting this shot up.

Here are 2 shots that almost line up. The left one is mine (2008), the right was taken for Life Magazine in the 1950's. The left hand photo is the "new" Arboles. The right is the original location, now buried deep under the Navajo Reservoir. The line was relocated in 1961, just 8 years before being abandoned.

You can still make out the "Rio Grande" logo on the tender.

Drop Bottom Gondola

My father examining

the display.

There are 2 gons here:

DRGW 725 & DRGW 836