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Sepiana
October 7th, 2008, 06:05 PM
Hi everyone,

During my recent trip to the west, I took an old-fashioned "joy ride" on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/), from Chama, NM to Osier, CO (round trip).

To add to the exhilaration of the ride itself and the breath-taking vistas, photographers would follow the train route and wait at every railroad crossing. It was hilarious! We all felt like celebrities. Some of them even showed up at the Chama Depot, upon our return.:D
Byron Gale
October 7th, 2008, 06:41 PM
Sepiana,

What a fun ride that would be... I hope you waved for your pictures!

Is that a narrow-gauge RR?

Byron
Sepiana
October 7th, 2008, 07:19 PM
Sepiana,

What a fun ride that would be... I hope you waved for your pictures!

Is that a narrow-gauge RR?

Byron

Hi Byron,

1. I waved and made faces (as a lot of us did).:D

2. Yes, it's a narrow-gauge RR; it made things exciting when the train would cross a trestle.
Byron Gale
October 7th, 2008, 11:16 PM
Hi Byron,

1. I waved and made faces (as a lot of us did).:D

2. Yes, it's a narrow-gauge RR; it made things exciting when the train would cross a trestle.Sepiana,

LOL! I would love to see the face of the guy who gets home to look at his beautiful train pictures and finds a bunch of people sticking out their tongues at him!!! :p

I recently rode the narrow-gauge "White Pass & Yukon Route" RR in Skagway, Alaska... That's also quite exciting at times!!

Byron
vawitt
October 7th, 2008, 11:38 PM
How about the narrow gauge from Georgetown, CO to Silver Plume and back again? Those high bridges are SPOOKY!
Byron Gale
October 7th, 2008, 11:52 PM
Here's some spooky from Alaska...

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/110wTO19pmVDRTc5vT5ds65EqMqrxF_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=110wTO19pmVDRTc5vT5ds65EqMqrxF)
vawitt
October 8th, 2008, 10:49 AM
Whoa! My stomach just dropped....
Sepiana
October 8th, 2008, 11:00 AM
Byron,

I feel dizzy just looking at it. What was the altitude? On the C&T, between Chama and Osier, the altitude goes from about 7,000 to 10,000. I rode on the open car for a while to take photos, but then went inside.
mljrbg
October 8th, 2008, 11:05 AM
Sepiana, love the train pics.

Byron, that is really spooky!! My stomach just did flip-flops and I'm sitting on the couch!!

Mary Lou
SharLamb
October 8th, 2008, 11:50 AM
You wrote: I recently rode the narrow-gauge "White Pass & Yukon Route" RR in Skagway, Alaska... That's also quite exciting at times!!

We took that trip a few years ago AFTER we heard the tale from our friends who had done it a year before. When they did it, there was an accident on the way up the mountain, and everyone had to be evacuated from the train. It was at a very precarious spot too. Part of the train was actually hanging over a precipice.

Now....weren't DH and I the brave ones????

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/11hdFGCq75IHlIz34McrBg4XozXDQ1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=11hdFGCq75IHlIz34McrBg4XozXDQ1)

Shar the Brave
msbrad
October 8th, 2008, 11:54 AM
I'm a chicken, I took the small bus up to the Yukon, but got pictures of the train.
We did take the Rocky Mountaineer train from Calgary to VanCouver.
m
Byron Gale
October 8th, 2008, 12:14 PM
...What was the altitude? On the C&T, between Chama and Osier, the altitude goes from about 7,000 to 10,000. I rode on the open car for a while to take photos, but then went inside.Sepiana,

The WP&YR elevation goes from sea level to 3000'. I spent a lot of the trip out on the little "balcony" at the front of the car so I wouldn't have to take my pictures through the windows. It got mighty nippy!!!

...We took that trip a few years ago AFTER we heard the tale from our friends who had done it a year before. When they did it, there was an accident on the way up the mountain, and everyone had to be evacuated from the train. It was at a very precarious spot too. Part of the train was actually hanging over a precipice...Shar,

I doubt I would have been able to get my wife onto the train if she had heard your story - now matter how many years ago it happened!!

And I have (almost) that exact same picture!!!! I wont be able to post it until later.

Byron
Inspeqtor
October 8th, 2008, 12:19 PM
Wow!

I hope someday my DW and I can take a ride like either of those trains! I love trains anyway as my father worked on the NYC, then retired from Penn-Central. I have much of his railroad gear :)
Sepiana
October 8th, 2008, 12:24 PM
Wow!

I hope someday my DW and I can take a ride like either of those trains! I love trains anyway as my father worked on the NYC, then retired from Penn-Central. I have much of his railroad gear :)


Charles,

I hope you both do! It's quite an experience. My husband and I had always wanted to that. We were so lucky; we had no reservations, got to the depot about 1/2 hr before departure, and were able to get tickets.
mljrbg
October 8th, 2008, 12:29 PM
Shar, all I can say is YIKES!!

Mary Lou
SharLamb
October 8th, 2008, 12:57 PM
Yes, well, I always have been a cockeyed optimist. I figured "what are the odds?...." Haven't heard of it happening again, although it's probably not the sort of thing that a tourist town would give much press! LOL

Shar
Home from the East Coast, and fresh from MY OWN shower (nothing like that after a trip, huh?)
Sepiana
October 8th, 2008, 01:06 PM
Shar, what a gutsy lady you are! I admire you!
SharLamb
October 8th, 2008, 02:27 PM
"Goofy" may be a better description of me than "gutsy!" Somehow, I don't feel like a very brave person. I would never hang glide or jump from a parachute...don't even ride rollercoasters. Go figure.
Shar
Red Sky
October 8th, 2008, 10:45 PM
Sepiana, those photographers are called foamers. They foam at the mouth at the sight of a train. I should know, as I am a recovering one! They are obsessed, usually carry scanners to listen to the crews, can tell you the tractive force the engine has and generally don't have a life outside of chasing trains. Some live with their mothers, drink copious amounts of soda and wear Blue Oyster Cult t-shirts under their Union Pacific coats. I like trains more than the average person, but these guys are nerds!;)
Sepiana
October 8th, 2008, 10:56 PM
Sepiana, those photographers are called foamers. They foam at the mouth at the sight of a train. I should know, as I am a recovering one! They are obsessed, usually carry scanners to listen to the crews, can tell you the tractive force the engine has and generally don't have a life outside of chasing trains. Some live with their mothers, drink copious amounts of soda and wear Blue Oyster Cult t-shirts under their Union Pacific coats. I like trains more than the average person, but these guys are nerds!;)

Steven, this is hilarious! It's good to know you're a recovering foamer. Can you imagine if you had been one of those following the train that day? And there I was waving and making faces at one of the villagers!:)
kim2900
October 8th, 2008, 11:09 PM
Sepiana - You still might have! Please note that Steven said he was a "recovering" foamer. He didn't said he was fully recovered.

Steven, do you own a Blue Oyster Cult t-shirt? What kind of coat do you wear? Seen your mom lately? :p
SharLamb
October 9th, 2008, 08:58 AM
I thought Steven had to be making this up! But no! I Googled "foamers," and although most of the hits were for foaming cleaning products, there are several that confirm his story! There is much to learn in this big world! ----------------- Shar
Byron Gale
October 12th, 2008, 02:38 AM
Here's my train at the same trestle/tunnel as in Val's picture...

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1PCTMW4s3Y4IYUkpQilJQZGpmxIj1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1PCTMW4s3Y4IYUkpQilJQZGpmxIj1)


...and here's another "vertigo" shot...

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Pp8AhTjowBigX5euFoIeA6au2R5s0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Pp8AhTjowBigX5euFoIeA6au2R5s0)
Inspeqtor
October 12th, 2008, 04:26 AM
Byron,

I am amazed the train personal would allow people to stand outside the cars as I see on the first photo! That seems really dangerous as I know how trains can at times jerk heavy and hard. It seems very possible that a passenger standing outside like that between the cars 'could' be jerked hard enough that they would lose their grip and literally be thrown off the train!

When I was a kid I rode inside a caboose (do you know what a caboose is? <grin> :p) and at one point the train jerked while I was standing I lost my balance and fell to the floor, loosing my breath!

I agree being able to stand outside like that would allow for some fantastic photos as your vertigo shot, and other opportunities not allowed sitting inside the train. Sitting is much safer!