5:30 The “Chili Line” was the nickname for the Santa Fe Branch. The Branch down to Farmington was just called the Farmington Branch. Interesting enough, the Farmington Branch was originally laid standard gauge which meant that Durango had a dual gauge yard for a short period in time.
HI. Yup Ive always heard the branch called chili. I drove it in Sept years ago and WOW!!! Every few miles a stand selling and drying chillies. ANYWAY, good to know... THANKS
Been looking into it. Weird history there!!! Apparently the Farmington branch was laid at the same time they were standard gauging the entire line, and assumed that they would be standard gauging the San Juan extension. So they had to put three rail at Durango, dual gauge, and later gave up and just re-gaged to narrow.
If I remember correctly, the Farmington Branch was built Standard Gauge as A scare tactic, to prevent other railroads from extending into the same area.
Not boring at all. I have decided to start keeping track of what engines ran where and other historical information about the narrow gauges. I use to live in Monte Vista back in the late 1950's early 1960's as a kid and traveled the San Luis Valley a lot and have memories of seeing the Antonito trains running to and from Alamosa, but need to verify with my dad if we saw steam engines. also remember the track over La Veta Pass as well. Thanks for covering this area, I need to revisit this area soon and see what is left and get in touch with some old memories.
Said it before, I'll say it again. You two are my favorite couple on TH-cam. On a website full of vanity and ugliness, it is nice to see two people that love each other and love living life together.
Love it, I don't comment very often but when you do video on the D&RG it's a must watch for me. My Grandfather Curtis Middleton and 3 of his brothers all retired from the Denver shop, My Granddad worked on the engine's from Durango and was one of the last boiler makers in that shop. Even though I don't speak up I indeed enjoy your channel. Thank you!👍🛤️🚂
Great video. In France, it is even more striking: Concorde flew 3 years BEFORE the end of steam passenger service by SNCF (1972), and that was just 4 years before Concorde starting service (1976). And 9 years after the end of steam, the high speed TGV entered service (1981).
You got to love dual guage track. It is amazing all the pieces to make a dual gauge switch. Always love hearing more history on the railroad in the San Louis valley area. I can remember going through the round house and seeing the locomotives there in 1970's when I was a kid visiting in Alamosa Colorado. Your video brings back a lot good memories of that roundhouse. It is a great lose that the scenic trains from there to La Veta Colorado are not running. Thanks for sharing and see you on Sunday.👍🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂
Towards the end, the observation car might be one of the original cars on the City Of New Orleans. I remember seeing that coach in Train magazine, a while back
Awesome video! I think it's really interesting how many narrow gauge railroads survived well into the 20th century as fully functional operations. The dual gauge track is fascinating, as well. You don't see that too often in America!
Dale and Karyn: I haven't been in this neck of the woods, since the late Summer of 1976 (our nation's Bi-Centennial) I was traveling with a group of 15 years old, Babe Ruth League Baseball All-Stars from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to their World Series event in Pueblo, Colorado. During an off day, I was with many other people who were parents of the team members, and we were touring places like Silverton, Canon City, the outdoors Western Movie Set mock-up, and where the Department of Corrections Facility is located, and eventually to the Royal Gorge, and took the verticle lift car to the bottom, and arrived just as a train was moving through.
Grew up in Monte Vista watching the D&RGW trains roll through town. Played on the old station by the park there (long since gone) and always loved getting to ride on the C&T once in a while, especially when it would stop at the top of Cumbres pass for the sopapillas. Too bad about the Rio Grande Scenic, that was a fun day trip we took about 10 years ago up to the top of the pass with my parents, and kids. Great lunch, concert, and meet and greet with Michael Martin Murphey (who would drive up from Taos and hop on the train at Fort Garland). Sad the venue burned and put it out of business (among other things). Sometimes you just have to go when the opportunity is there.
Great video. This is a part of Colorado we have not seen. We were in the path bog hurricane Nicholaus and have been without power since 2:30 AM. As hurricanes go it was a nothing storm (other than not having power). Enjoyed this immensely. Would like to walk old narrow gauge grades Loki g for spikes and fish plates. Was on Google and noticed that the old Penn-Central line going into Terre Haute Indian and all the tracks and serving faculties had been removed. Such a shame. Never boring always unique.
I've always loved Rio Grande narrow gauge, but only since the start of last year have I been trying to really learn more about it, (and collect F scale models!). I bought every DVD that Greg Scholl has on the subject, who has collected loads of old footage and produced wonderful video productions out of them. I highly recommend if you haven't checked him out already.
This kind of explains why a lot of narrow gauge gear is marked for the Rio Grand RR. Even the Knott's locomotive is marked Rio Grand Southern. I can't wait for the next installment.
nicely done as usual, though a couple things you mentioned were incorrect. The Chili Line was the Line that ran from Antonito to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The line from Durango to Farmington was just called the Farmington branch. Also, the last train on Narrow Gauge ran in December 1968, seven months before the moon landing, not two weeks. One last thing, the San Juan Express did not go all the way to Silverton, the train only went as far as Durango. Until the late 1950s, the train to Silverton was a mixed train. In about 1959, the railroad began operating a separate passenger train from Durango to Silverton each day, with a second passenger train being added to the schedule in 1964 due to increasing popularity.
Hi. Yea oops on Farmington. The moon flight I was referring to was Apollo 8. The first flight to the moon. Apollo 8 9 and 10 didn’t land. 8 was the first time humans left orbit to travel to the moon. First time we saw the earth from space. The Christmas broadcast 1968 was epic. Didn’t think I said the San Juan ran to Silverton.. I do get ahead of myself sometimes though!! Anyway thanks for watching! Ifs a fun subject no matter what.
Regarding the Rio Grande Scenic. I wonder what happened to the locomotives? Maybe can you do a little digging? Rio Grande Scenic #18 used to work on the Grand Canyon RR as their #18. I think the Grand Canyon RR sold her after they got CB&Q 4960 going.
I had heard that the Rio Grande Scenic's stopping point where they had their concerts and a few buildings had gotten burned out. So I am thinking the Scenic part is gone for a number of years. Not sure if that is why they closed, but I would think that going to a burned out area would reduce the demand.
The exemployee we talked to said they just spent tooooo much money. New shops, like 50 passenger cars only about 8 actually working. Perhaps 10? F unit locomotives. Steam locomotives. AND all before the line was even running. Just went broke..
That's too bad. I really thought they had something going. I was planning to ride it sometime. I hope someone with money and a business plan will pick it up and run with it. I loved all those F units and the thought of going to a concert.
Unfortunately the equipment was part of the Iowa Pacific bankruptcy, the good news is a lot of it has been bought with a lot of it going to the Reading and Northern here in pennsylvania where it will live on in their regularly used passenger fleet behind 4-6-2 #425 and, soon, Reading T1 2102 and the R&N's various other passenger operations
Yikes. Very shocking to hear the San Luis & Rio Grande is OOB. I took the La Veda Pass route several times and it was one of the best rides anywhere. Very historic and relaxing. One of the trips had the boss on board; Ed Ellis, and I guess he even played a guitar sometimes. Hopefully they can make an orange out of the orange juice and get it back running again.
AS the story goes the Denver and Rio Grande was planning to standard gauge their whole system and they got to about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way there when Black Tuesday happen. which stopped the conversion and the Railroad never recovered enough to warrant the completion of the lines. it's why the Durango and Silverton's Iconic locomotives are actually Standard gauge locos with a Narrow gauge wheel base. They were planning to standardize the line when they D&RG bought the locomotives but the upgrade never happened.
All the equipment in Alamosa is for sale with the Iowa Pacific Holdings issues and all that. Sad to see it go, was going to try and buy some stuff but getting it home and doing repairs to get it movable on its own wheels cost too much for me (there are people who have the money who are getting things out of there though and into preservation or service)
AWESOME GOOD VIDEO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS WITH YOUR SUBSCRIBERS I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH STAY COOL AND SAFE DRINK WATER AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BOTH THANK YOU AGAIN JIM KAMMERER OF PHILADELPHIA PA
If you can still find the "ALL ABOARD SERIES-Volume 10"from Green Frog 2004. It is a well put together train geek film documenting a Rocky Mountain Railroad Club excursion from Alamosa to Durango and back in 1965. Shows the train going through the steel bridge by Antonito, and along much of the San Juan Extension between Chama and Durango. Good watching.
Australia's had triple gauge yards - I think one of the triple gauge turntables is still around somewhere in Victoria or Southern Australia. A lot of track with 4 rails - two in-between and two outer rather than 3 rails on one side and 1 on the other. As the former is less complex track work.
I wonder, is it possible to relay the track between Chama and Durango? Most of the abandoned grade still exists, some made into a road. Oh ya, it would be expensive. some realignment of the grade would be necessary, etc. but OH the trip from Antonito to Durango. I could probably be arm twisted, not much needed, to give a little money to that project, even though I will never get to ride on it. Just imagine, nearly all of the 2-8-2's could be re-united and run the territory that they ran when new, Just another hair brain idea from Bob. ;-)
Possible, yes, probable, no. Practical, probably not. The BIG roadblock to relaying this segment is it is in the Ute Indian Reservation. The tribe would have to give permission and that is tenuous.
All the way to the Navaho Reservoir is still intact. From there its hard... Lots missing.... And the last 5 miles into Durango.... All homes and roads.
some of the locos were equipped with Standard & Standard couplers the Chili Line ran from Antonito, CO to Santa Fe, NM Abandoned in 1941 " the RG depot is still there as a bar now it'd be neat but impossible to reconnect Durango to Chama again
It’s interesting how that the railroads have decided to not innovate and instead they are abandoning lines instead of adapting to the customer needs like using road railer trains
Story I heard about Raton Pass, Santa Fe, and The Rio Grande. The wagon road on the pass was originally owned by mountain man Dick Wooten. The Santa Fe men were in Trinidad woke up and saw the Rio Grande men sitting down to breakfast. Realizing the competition was there to get the rights to Raton Pass, the Santa Fe men skipped breakfast bought a couple of cases of whiskey and headed south. When the Rio Grande men showed up to negotiate they were too late. Santa Fe had a signed sale, and Dick Wooten was properly sloshed. Don't know how true the story is.
8:25 I have a hunch about that bridge, a lonnnng time ago Greenfrog put a video up of cattle crossing a DRGW line, and not all made it across… the train was coming up to a white truss that looked exactly like that one. Might be a different one, but it would be cool if it was th-cam.com/video/mYOecy2Yz9k/w-d-xo.html
5:30 The “Chili Line” was the nickname for the Santa Fe Branch. The Branch down to Farmington was just called the Farmington Branch. Interesting enough, the Farmington Branch was originally laid standard gauge which meant that Durango had a dual gauge yard for a short period in time.
HI. Yup Ive always heard the branch called chili. I drove it in Sept years ago and WOW!!! Every few miles a stand selling and drying chillies. ANYWAY, good to know... THANKS
Been looking into it. Weird history there!!! Apparently the Farmington branch was laid at the same time they were standard gauging the entire line, and assumed that they would be standard gauging the San Juan extension. So they had to put three rail at Durango, dual gauge, and later gave up and just re-gaged to narrow.
If I remember correctly, the Farmington Branch was built Standard Gauge as A scare tactic, to prevent other railroads from extending into the same area.
Dale when you give the time Perspective it's an eye opener, Here we were still running steam and HEADED TO THE MOON on a Rocket ship!
Not boring at all. I have decided to start keeping track of what engines ran where and other historical information about the narrow gauges. I use to live in Monte Vista back in the late 1950's early 1960's as a kid and traveled the San Luis Valley a lot and have memories of seeing the Antonito trains running to and from Alamosa, but need to verify with my dad if we saw steam engines. also remember the track over La Veta Pass as well. Thanks for covering this area, I need to revisit this area soon and see what is left and get in touch with some old memories.
Really INTERESTING!! Some amazing places.
Said it before, I'll say it again. You two are my favorite couple on TH-cam. On a website full of vanity and ugliness, it is nice to see two people that love each other and love living life together.
Love it, I don't comment very often but when you do video on the D&RG it's a must watch for me.
My Grandfather Curtis Middleton and 3 of his brothers all retired from the Denver shop, My Granddad worked on the engine's from Durango and was one of the last boiler makers in that shop.
Even though I don't speak up I indeed enjoy your channel. Thank you!👍🛤️🚂
Looking forward to seeing more . Thank you
We drove the Rio Grande Scenic Wandered the yard... Next weeks show...
Great video.
In France, it is even more striking: Concorde flew 3 years BEFORE the end of steam passenger service by SNCF (1972), and that was just 4 years before Concorde starting service (1976).
And 9 years after the end of steam, the high speed TGV entered service (1981).
You got to love dual guage track. It is amazing all the pieces to make a dual gauge switch. Always love hearing more history on the railroad in the San Louis valley area. I can remember going through the round house and seeing the locomotives there in 1970's when I was a kid visiting in Alamosa Colorado. Your video brings back a lot good memories of that roundhouse. It is a great lose that the scenic trains from there to La Veta Colorado are not running. Thanks for sharing and see you on Sunday.👍🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂
Towards the end, the observation car might be one of the original cars on the City Of New Orleans. I remember seeing that coach in Train magazine, a while back
Would love to see this come back and third rail put back, would be awesome!!!
YUP!! Shame they tore down the roundhouse. And after 1990!!! Short sighted.
great shot of that 040 tank
Great video, just love all the history great information
thanks!!
Not boring. Very good info.
Thanks!!
In 11 minutes and 20 seconds you answered many questions I had. Very interesting show.
Awesome video! I think it's really interesting how many narrow gauge railroads survived well into the 20th century as fully functional operations. The dual gauge track is fascinating, as well. You don't see that too often in America!
One three foot freight railroad is STILL operating in Southern California!! On the Mexican border. Plaster city.
Dale and Karyn: I haven't been in this neck of the woods, since the late Summer of 1976 (our nation's Bi-Centennial) I was traveling with a group of 15 years old, Babe Ruth League Baseball All-Stars from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to their World Series event in Pueblo, Colorado. During an off day, I was with many other people who were parents of the team members, and we were touring places like Silverton, Canon City, the outdoors Western Movie Set mock-up, and where the Department of Corrections Facility is located, and eventually to the Royal Gorge, and took the verticle lift car to the bottom, and arrived just as a train was moving through.
Love dual gauge!
Great stuff, I'm a new subscriber and your video is not boring !
Hi!! Trying to get caught up. Er. During Covid “caught up” bad choice of words. Anyway you get the idea. Going through comments. Welcome aboard!
Like you Dale I saw those lanterns and I coveted them. How good are they!?
Grew up in Monte Vista watching the D&RGW trains roll through town. Played on the old station by the park there (long since gone) and always loved getting to ride on the C&T once in a while, especially when it would stop at the top of Cumbres pass for the sopapillas.
Too bad about the Rio Grande Scenic, that was a fun day trip we took about 10 years ago up to the top of the pass with my parents, and kids. Great lunch, concert, and meet and greet with Michael Martin Murphey (who would drive up from Taos and hop on the train at Fort Garland). Sad the venue burned and put it out of business (among other things). Sometimes you just have to go when the opportunity is there.
Great video. This is a part of Colorado we have not seen. We were in the path bog hurricane Nicholaus and have been without power since 2:30 AM. As hurricanes go it was a nothing storm (other than not having power). Enjoyed this immensely. Would like to walk old narrow gauge grades Loki g for spikes and fish plates. Was on Google and noticed that the old Penn-Central line going into Terre Haute Indian and all the tracks and serving faculties had been removed. Such a shame. Never boring always unique.
I've always loved Rio Grande narrow gauge, but only since the start of last year have I been trying to really learn more about it, (and collect F scale models!). I bought every DVD that Greg Scholl has on the subject, who has collected loads of old footage and produced wonderful video productions out of them. I highly recommend if you haven't checked him out already.
Interesting video. Did you ever check the dates on the rails?
Hummm... No.. Should have...
This kind of explains why a lot of narrow gauge gear is marked for the Rio Grand RR. Even the Knott's locomotive is marked Rio Grand Southern. I can't wait for the next installment.
Just cool learning new old history 👍👍
Another road trip yeah
Doing a whole show just on Camp Hale. Really interesting.
@@ToyManTelevision 🤗🤗🤗🤗
Awesome video
thanks!!!
nicely done as usual, though a couple things you mentioned were incorrect. The Chili Line was the Line that ran from Antonito to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The line from Durango to Farmington was just called the Farmington branch. Also, the last train on Narrow Gauge ran in December 1968, seven months before the moon landing, not two weeks. One last thing, the San Juan Express did not go all the way to Silverton, the train only went as far as Durango. Until the late 1950s, the train to Silverton was a mixed train. In about 1959, the railroad began operating a separate passenger train from Durango to Silverton each day, with a second passenger train being added to the schedule in 1964 due to increasing popularity.
Hi. Yea oops on Farmington. The moon flight I was referring to was Apollo 8. The first flight to the moon. Apollo 8 9 and 10 didn’t land. 8 was the first time humans left orbit to travel to the moon. First time we saw the earth from space. The Christmas broadcast 1968 was epic. Didn’t think I said the San Juan ran to Silverton.. I do get ahead of myself sometimes though!! Anyway thanks for watching! Ifs a fun subject no matter what.
Regarding the Rio Grande Scenic. I wonder what happened to the locomotives? Maybe can you do a little digging?
Rio Grande Scenic #18 used to work on the Grand Canyon RR as their #18. I think the Grand Canyon RR sold her after they got CB&Q 4960 going.
All their steam locomotives were sold to various other tourist railroads.
I had heard that the Rio Grande Scenic's stopping point where they had their concerts and a few buildings had gotten burned out. So I am thinking the Scenic part is gone for a number of years. Not sure if that is why they closed, but I would think that going to a burned out area would reduce the demand.
The exemployee we talked to said they just spent tooooo much money. New shops, like 50 passenger cars only about 8 actually working. Perhaps 10? F unit locomotives. Steam locomotives. AND all before the line was even running. Just went broke..
That's too bad. I really thought they had something going. I was planning to ride it sometime. I hope someone with money and a business plan will pick it up and run with it. I loved all those F units and the thought of going to a concert.
Unfortunately the equipment was part of the Iowa Pacific bankruptcy, the good news is a lot of it has been bought with a lot of it going to the Reading and Northern here in pennsylvania where it will live on in their regularly used passenger fleet behind 4-6-2 #425 and, soon, Reading T1 2102 and the R&N's various other passenger operations
Yikes. Very shocking to hear the San Luis & Rio Grande is OOB. I took the La Veda Pass route several times and it was one of the best rides anywhere. Very historic and relaxing. One of the trips had the boss on board; Ed Ellis, and I guess he even played a guitar sometimes. Hopefully they can make an orange out of the orange juice and get it back running again.
On your map in the South west Colorado, you can see all of the places served by the Rio Grande Southern
AS the story goes the Denver and Rio Grande was planning to standard gauge their whole system and they got to about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way there when Black Tuesday happen. which stopped the conversion and the Railroad never recovered enough to warrant the completion of the lines. it's why the Durango and Silverton's Iconic locomotives are actually Standard gauge locos with a Narrow gauge wheel base. They were planning to standardize the line when they D&RG bought the locomotives but the upgrade never happened.
One day, might check out the new roster of locomotives on the Durango & Silverton
All the equipment in Alamosa is for sale with the Iowa Pacific Holdings issues and all that. Sad to see it go, was going to try and buy some stuff but getting it home and doing repairs to get it movable on its own wheels cost too much for me (there are people who have the money who are getting things out of there though and into preservation or service)
AWESOME GOOD VIDEO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS WITH YOUR SUBSCRIBERS I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH STAY COOL AND SAFE DRINK WATER AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BOTH THANK YOU AGAIN JIM KAMMERER OF PHILADELPHIA PA
Tennessee pass rail line might be reopening soon
Drove it. WOW!!!! Beautiful. Good track.
If you can still find the "ALL ABOARD SERIES-Volume 10"from Green Frog 2004. It is a well put together train geek film documenting a Rocky Mountain Railroad Club excursion from Alamosa to Durango and back in 1965. Shows the train going through the steel bridge by Antonito, and along much of the San Juan Extension between Chama and Durango. Good watching.
Wow. Love to see that.
Australia's had triple gauge yards - I think one of the triple gauge turntables is still around somewhere in Victoria or Southern Australia. A lot of track with 4 rails - two in-between and two outer rather than 3 rails on one side and 1 on the other. As the former is less complex track work.
I wonder, is it possible to relay the track between Chama and Durango? Most of the abandoned grade still exists, some made into a road.
Oh ya, it would be expensive. some realignment of the grade would be necessary, etc. but OH the trip from Antonito to Durango.
I could probably be arm twisted, not much needed, to give a little money to that project, even though I will never get to ride on it.
Just imagine, nearly all of the 2-8-2's could be re-united and run the territory that they ran when new,
Just another hair brain idea from Bob. ;-)
Possible, yes, probable, no. Practical, probably not. The BIG roadblock to relaying this segment is it is in the Ute Indian Reservation. The tribe would have to give permission and that is tenuous.
All the way to the Navaho Reservoir is still intact. From there its hard... Lots missing.... And the last 5 miles into Durango.... All homes and roads.
Dale,was that the line used in the movie " Bite the bullet" ?
Not sure.... Many movies. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade... More on that one...
Sorry, but the line to Farmington, NM was NOT the Chili line. The Chili line ran to Santa Fe NM.
some of the locos were equipped with Standard & Standard couplers
the Chili Line ran from Antonito, CO to Santa Fe, NM Abandoned in 1941 "
the RG depot is still there as a bar now
it'd be neat but impossible to reconnect Durango to Chama again
Another great video toy man television keep it up please
Which tourist railroad is gone? At first I thought you meant the Durango and Silverton.
It’s interesting how that the railroads have decided to not innovate and instead they are abandoning lines instead of adapting to the customer needs like using road railer trains
Containers have changed the world... Did you see our shows on the port of Los Angles? (Almost got arrested by Homeland Security)
When are you going back to the Colorado railroad museum
Not sure. Depends on sooo many things.
Story I heard about Raton Pass, Santa Fe, and The Rio Grande.
The wagon road on the pass was originally owned by mountain man Dick Wooten. The Santa Fe men were in Trinidad woke up and saw the Rio Grande men sitting down to breakfast. Realizing the competition was there to get the rights to Raton Pass, the Santa Fe men skipped breakfast bought a couple of cases of whiskey and headed south.
When the Rio Grande men showed up to negotiate they were too late. Santa Fe had a signed sale, and Dick Wooten was properly sloshed.
Don't know how true the story is.
There sure is a lot of screwing around in this video!
8:25 I have a hunch about that bridge, a lonnnng time ago Greenfrog put a video up of cattle crossing a DRGW line, and not all made it across… the train was coming up to a white truss that looked exactly like that one. Might be a different one, but it would be cool if it was th-cam.com/video/mYOecy2Yz9k/w-d-xo.html
You should have had a warning. I picked up tetanus just by watching the last part of the video. I'll send the doctor's bill.