Rio Grande News

  • RAILFEST 2008 SCHEDULE POSTED
    Posted Tuesday, July 15 2008 at 1351 h MDT
    The Durango & Silverton has finally posted the official schedule for this year's Railfest. The event, running from August 21st through the 24th, will feature 315 and Goose 5 on a number of the usual runs, along with the night photo shoot on Friday. The official schedule can be found on the DSNG's website [here]. - NDHolmes

  • NEXT ROUND OF 315 PICTURES - FIRST RUN (JUNE 16)
    Posted Sunday, July 13 2008 at 2119 h MDT
    Since I've had an otherwise horrible weekend involving plumbers, a collapsed sewer line under the city street that I (unfortunately) own, and thus lining up everyone I need to repair it this next week, I decided to take a few hours this afternoon to relax and sort photos.

    I figured I should sort the oldest stuff first - which means getting the photos from 315's first C&TS revenue run posted. The results of the June 16 trip are posted in a new trip report [here]. Enjoy! -
    NDHolmes

  • JULY 4 D&RGW 315 / RGS 5 PHOTOS POSTED
    Posted Friday, July 11 2008 at 0042 h MDT
    Out of the three 315 trips I've now photographed on the C&TS, I finally managed to get one sorted and posted as a new trip report tonight. On July 4, as most of you probably know, restored D&RGW Class C-18 2-8-0 #315 ran a "stock extra" photo freight out of Antonito, along with Goose 5. For those interested, it's posted [here].

    With any luck, I'll get the photos from the other two runs sorted and posted sometime this weekend, as well as get caught up on the last few weeks of email. As usual, thanks for your patience.

    Update (11-Jul-2008 - 0845h): Well, I shouldn't hog the spotlight so much, as there are a lot of excellent railroad photographers that were out that day. If you want to see other peoples' take on the day, check out the following: [Nathan Zachman], Dave Dye (at NGDF), and [Roger Hogan]. If anybody else has their shots up, let me know and I'll add you to the list. -
    NDHolmes

  • CHS PUTS OUT RFB FOR C&S 9 RESTORATION
    Posted Thursday, July 3 2008 at 1146 h MDT
    Once again, the Colorado Historical Society has put out a Request for Bids to do an operating, FRA-compliant rebuild/restoration on C&S 2-6-0 #9. (Yes, if you're wondering, yet another one...) The State of Colorado has the announcement on their website, complete with bidding details - see [here].

    Of interesting note is the 160 day completion requirement - I can't imagine what reasonable shop would even attempt that, but we shall see what those wacky folks at the CHS do this time. Speculation on NGDF says that this may be CHS's way of declaring #9 too expensive for an operating restoration, which if true, would be some good news. #9 is far too valuable to beat up as daily power on the Loop.

    Meanwhile, last I knew the Loop is still running on 2-axle diesel #21 rather than the big new 1503, though that was several weeks ago. If anybody knows what they're running these days, let me know. Otherwise I'll check for myself one of these days. -
    NDHolmes

 Other Rio Grande Websites
 DRGW.org
  The most comprehensive D&RGW site out there
 Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society
  The Rio Grande Modeling and Historical Society
 ColoradoRailfan.com
  Kevin Morgan's D&RGW Site (formerly drgw.ws) - Route and historical info, as well as photos
 Railblazer
  An excellent site by a Mike B., a professional railroader and former D&RGW employee
 More Rio Grande Websites...
 
 Other Railfan Sites Hosted Here
 Iowa Interstate
  The Unofficial Iowa Interstate Photo Archive and Railfan's Guide
 RailARC
  RailARC - Our effort at building the ultimate rail photo archive.
 CNW Railway Photo Archive
  Dan Source and Brad Logan's Chicago and Northwestern Railway site.
 
 D&RGW Site Ring

The D&RGW Site Ring
This site owned by ND Holmes
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 Recent Trip Reports
DRGW 315's First C&TS Run
   Posted: Jul 13, 2008
 After seven years of restoration work, D&RGW 315 returned to the rails last year after 57 years of sitting in a Durango park. This year, the Durango Railroad Historical Society and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic bought 315 to Chama for six photo specials over the line. Monday, 16-Jun-2008 marked the engine's first revenue trip over Cumbres Pass in at least sixty years, and likely many more. I decided to chase that run rather than ride it, and the results are posted here. - NDH
 
DRGW 315 and RGS 5 on July 4
   Posted: Jul 11, 2008
 D&RGW 315, on its first visit to the eastern part of the San Juan Extension in at least fifty years, pulls a photo special "stock extra" from Antonito to Osier, accompanied by RGS Galloping Goose 5. - NDH
 
SL&RG 18's First Run
   Posted: Jun 10, 2008
 The San Luis & Rio Grande fires up their second steam engine for its inaugural run on 3-May-2008's Trains Unlimited photo special. Also, see two daylight freights over La Veta and one of 1744's few trips to Antonito. - NDH
 
Many more Trip Reports...
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