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Chris Parker and I arose at 5:45 AM and prepared ourselves for the day ahead. We did the Best Western Alamosa Inn continental breakfast before we packed up and checked out. We drove west on US 160 following the rails we rode yesterday out to Sugar Jct just short of Monte Vista. We turned before the ACE Hardware and soon found the shop. We took a quick look before returning to the parking area at a grade crossing and parked the car. A few minutes later Bart and Sarah Jennings pulled up and I knew we were in the right place to board the train. A few more cars parked before Bart walked down to the shop. About ten minutes later I saw train cars heading our way and set up for my first pictures of this new day.
I walked over to the street and caught the string of cars coming my way.
At the end was the open window coach that we would all ride in today.
San Luis Central SW-9 70 was pushing this cut of cars.
The SW-9 pushes the cars down into their yard at Sugar Jct.
San Luis Central SW-9 70.
After it cut off from the freight cars it pulled back in order to spot the train for
boarding.
Our train consisted of SW-9 70 and SLRG Coach RPGW 5560 was ready to board. I boarded the coach finding a seat to put my bag on and realizing that this could be a cold and windy trip decided to go back to the car for a few things. I opened the trunk and my bag putting on my long underwear top and getting my gloves. I returned to the train to wait for departure time.
A brief historyThe company was incorporated February 19, 1913. The first portion of the line opened in September 1913 to haul sugar beets to an on-line processing mill. Beet growing did not prove popular with local farmers, and the facility soon closed. Other agricultural crops including potatoes, barley, wheat, peas and lettuce are grown in the fertile San Luis Valley. Passenger service ended in 1937. Pea Vine Corp acquired the entire capital stock from the estate of the railroad’s founder in 1969. SLC operates freight service from a connection with San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad (SLRG) at Monte Vista, CO to Center, CO (13 miles). SLRG handles the traffic from Monte Vista to a connection with UP at Walsenburg, CO. Traffic includes grain, potatoes and fertilizer.
The Trip
Views inside our open window Coach 5560.
Our trip started by going south crossing the scale on the way to the interchange with the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad.
We proceeded south through to the end of the yard.
Our conductor had to throw the switch at the wye so that we could back down to the US 160 highway crossing.
This is the furthest point south we went on this railroad. Our train did put down the crossing gates so we didn't hang around here too long. We then started the northbound trip to Center at the north end of this railroad. We passed through the yard and headed out of Sugar Jct.
The San Luis Central Railroad Shops.
A pond along our route.
The water is here because we are nearing the Rio Grande River.
Another ditch along our route.
Our train is about to take one of the only two curves on this railroad.
The look back as we start into that curve.
A siding with a line of stored cars.
A closer view of some of these unique freight cars.
You never know what you will see on a trip.
Approaching the bridge over the Rio Grande River where our first photo runby would be held.
The Rio Grande River. After we crossed it, we stopped the train and all unloaded for the Photo Runby.
The back up move across the Rio Grande Bridge.
The Photo Runby. After it was done we all reboarded the train as our next stop would be in Center.
Another low laying area with water as we took the other curve on this railroad.
A look back at the curve.
With the track being straight I will just show you some things along this railroad.
Near the old station at North Farm.
The San Luis Valley is a major agriculture area in Colorado.
Old packing houses have found new life along this railroad.
Closing in on Vastine.
The view south with Great Sand Dunes National Park with the mountains behind.
Dunul, Colorado.
Arriving into Center.
The track that our power would run around our train at Center.
We went as far up the railroad north at Center that we could go. It was announced that we would be picking up a tank car to take back to Sugar Jct. That meant that our passenger train would be a "Mix Train" for the return trip.
Tracks at Center, Colorado.
They backed the train up to spot the coach as the photographers scrabbled to get pictures.
The SW-9 70 and tank car then backed up to past the switch.
The engine and tank car then ran by the coach that they had spotted.
They then ran down to the switch before backing onto our train.
Our "Mix Train" now consisted of San Luis Central SW-9 70, tank car GATX 37244 and Coach 5566. As I walked around during our layover I discovered that our coach had been on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Almost everyone on the train visited a gas station to use the restroom and purchase snacks as well as drinks.
SW-9 70 waited in Center for everyone to return before we headed back south towards Sugar Jct.
On the way back the look down straight as an arrow track.
The beautiful mountains that surrounds the San Luis Valley. I enjoyed talking with our other passengers on the return trip and it seemed all too soon that we had returned to the Rio Grande River Bridge for the final runby of these trips.
After we all unloaded and crossed an electrified fence to get to the river, I walked out onto an island to set up for the back up move.
Photo Runby 2 at the Rio Grande River Bridge.
The back up move as I ran out of film. I decided just to watch Photo Runby 3 which I did without having to look through a camera. That San Luis Central Railroad SW-9 sure put on a good show!
After I reboarded our train and it moved a few yards down the rails, the Rio Grande Bridge as seen from the rear of our train.
We returned to Sugar Jct and a shot of our train as the passengers unloaded.
One last shot of San Luis Central SW-9 70.
Passengers were still unloading as they head home after two great days of rare mileage trips sponsored by the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum on both the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad and San Luis Central Railroad. A special thank you to both railroads plus Bart and Sarah Jennings for putting on these unique trips. We said our goodbyes before Chris Parker and I drove off for our next adventure but that is another story.
