Our train continued to climb the grade towards Climax.
Looking back to Mount. Elbert.
Through the forest we go.
Interesting rock formations.
Mountain peaks along our route.
Rounding a curve.
Another mountain peak.
Zip-lining along and over the railway line.
We were nearing French Gulch water tower.
The French Gulch water tower.
Ascending the grade towards Climax.
The verdant valley and forest.
I am amazed how trees can grow anywhere on a mountain.
More of the forest.
A structure of unknown purpose on the west side of the grade.
More trees!
Another fantastic view.
A pond on the right.
Still climbing the grade.
The Climax Molybdenum Mine is seen for the first time.
Looking down at the Arkansas River.
The Climax Molybdenum Mine.
Looking ahead of the train up the tracks.
A building in the valley.
The Climax Molybdenum Mine.
The highway that will return us to Denver.
Sheep Mountain.
Travelling through the forest.
Highway 91 bends to conquer Fremont Pass and the Continental Divide.
We were rolling north at this point.
The mine.
Leadville was two miles above sea level and we were higher than that.
The Wortman Mine.
Nearing the end of track.
Crossing the Arkansas River very near its headwaters.
Mount Democrat.
Our crossing of the Arkansas River.
The Sleeping Indian and Mount Arkansas.
We had reached our furthest point from Leadville as you can see the barrier across the tracks ahead. This was only the fourth time that a train had travelled this far.
Highway 91 over Fremont Pass. On the way back, Steve Barry and I met with the train crew about the photo runby at the French Gulch water tower and it was decided there would be two runbys so we discussed the procedures for making it a safe experience for the passengers. Steve would take the lower photo line at the first runby and I would take the upper level for both runbys. No passenger could move until the train reversed. After the first runby and the train had reversed, people could then switch either to the upper or lower or stay on the same level. Steve announced it over the train's PA system and when we arrived, I was second off and headed to my appointed spot.
Our passengers getting off the train and I was at the east end of the group making sure no one went down the tracks until the train finished reversing. The conductor and I would lead the passengers to the upper photo locations.
Our first photo runby at the French Gulch water tower. I moved to another location.
The lower photo line.
The photo runby scene.
The reverse move before the final runby.
The upper photo lines.
The last and final photo runby of the 2016 NRHS Denver convention. We returned to Leadville then boarded the bus back to Denver, taking a much more direct route and went through several thunderstorms on the way. We missed Union Pacific 844 returning to Denver by about ten minutes after we crossed the bridge. Upon our arrival, I said goodbye to each of our passengers, Elizabeth and I then turned in our radios and safety vests, thus ending our participation in the 2016 convention.
Robin then met us and we walked over to the Country Buffet for our final dinner in Denver, after which we walked over to Walmart for some items before returning to the Quality Inn for the night. It had been a very good convention.
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