The covered picnic area at Cascade.
Durango and Silverton 476 resting.
The engine and the picnic area. Boxed lunches were distributed here; Elizabeth had a turkey sandwich and the concession employee made me a roast beef sandwich.
While the Durango and Silverton is most well-known for its all-day excursions to Silverton, shorter journeys are offered, such as to Cascade. Such journeys feature an hour layover and the proximity of the Animas River is very easily enjoyed. Where else on the line can you have a picnic beside a river?
Durango and Silverton coach 332 "La Plata", nee Denver and Rio Grande Western in 1963, built by the railroad in 1964.
Durango and Silverton open gondola 402, built by Denver and Rio Grande Western in 1963 from gondola 9605, built by Pullman in 1916.
Durango and Silverton concession car 566, nee Denver and Rio Grande Western mail car 14, built by the railroad in 1882.
Durango and Silverton coach 257 "Shenandoah", ex. Denver and Rio Grande Western 257, exx. Rio Grande Southern 267, nee Denver and Rio Grande 43 "Terra Amarilla" built by Jackson and Sharp in 1880.
Durango and Silverton coach 311 "McPhee", nee Denver and Rio Grande Western 87, built by Jackson and Sharp in 1881.
Durango and Silverton open gondola 400, built by Denver and Rio Grande Western in 1963, from gondola 9609 built by Pullman in 1916.
Durango and Silverton observation car B3 "Nomad". Built in 1878, "Nomad" was originally named "Fairplay". In 1886, it was rebuilt as Business Car N. It is reportedly the favorite car of Denver and Rio Grande president William Jackson Palmer. The "Fairplay" has hosted Presidents William H. Taft, Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt. While being owned by several parties between 1951 and 1982, "Fairplay" was renamed "Nomad". It was acquired by the D&SNG in 1982 and today, is the oldest private railroad coach still in service in the United States, running daily throughout the summer.
Durango and Silverton business car B7 "General Palmer", nee Denver and Rio Grande 17, built by Billmeyer & Small in 1880. It is owned by the Harper family, which owns the Durango and Silverton.
The lady engineer of our train.
Aaron Isaacs of the Heritage Rail Alliance and Otto Vondrak of Railfan and Railroad Magazine gathered all convention delegates together for a group photograph.
Once back aboard, Elizabeth went to the two private cars. This is the rear seating area of "Nomad'".
Air brake and pressure gauges.
The rear of "Nomad" as photographed from "General Palmer".
Part of the decorative ceiling of "General Palmer".
Exiting the Cascade wye.
We would follow the river all the way to Durango.
The fast-flowing Animas River.
Rounding an inside curve.
Passing a green resume speed sign.
Leaving Tank Creek behind.
The journey to Tacoma.
The bridge at Tacoma, Milepost 472.28.
Curving our way to the High Bridge.
Crossing the High Bridge, 190 feet long, made of steel girders with a heavy deck.
The Animas River dropping down into its gorge.
Starting the trip across the High Line. It was announced that a photo runby would occur here and everyone was anticipating it; conference delegates were from all parts of the country and Canada.
The Animas River far below. We all detrained for the runby.
Reverse move with a blow down.
Photo runby one.
Our train on the high line after the runby.
I returned to my seat in the open car and captured the preparations for the crew photograph.
The crew of the Cascade Canyon Express.
The concession car employee and Lizzy Heerdt joined the photograph. Lizzy's brother, Russell, the regular conductor who is in charge of charter events, was at home looking after he and his wife's new baby.
We started the journey on the High Line.
The Animas River on the way to Durango.
The San Juan National Forest sign.
The Yard Limit sign post for Rockwood.
The cut at Rockwood at Milepost 469.15.
Galloping Goose 5 was waiting for us.
The water tower at Hermosa, Milepost 462.5.
The northern mountains on the way back to Durango. A little piece of rare mileage was experienced as we passed the station and went onto the balloon track into the yard.
This was in preparation for the shop tour, a planned activity.
This was as far as the train went; all detrained for the tour.
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