I was spending the summer with my grandparents in Garden City, KS the summer of 1966. My grandmother drove out to Walsenburg, CO to visit her younger brothers daughter (her niece, my cousin) who was recovering from Gaul Bladder surgery. Earlier that spring, I had acquired a copy of Trains Magazine with the Glen Brewer feature about the D&RGW narrow gauge operations in 1965. Somehow, I managed to convince my grandmother to take the long way home to Garden City via Alamosa and Antonito, CO. During our drive south along US285, we passed two northbound freights, one pulled by I think a K36 and the other was a double-header. As we were making our approach to Antonito, we were lucky enough to pace a south bound freight all the way into town. What a treat. Too bad I didn't pack my Kodak Instamatic camera for the trip. The memories are forever ingrained in my brain however. Thanks for posting!
There is something so incredibly fascinating, yet melancholy, about this remarkable footage. Those hard working men are all gone. The mines are mainly gone. Narrow gauge is gone. Most of these train lines are gone for good. We will see none of these amazing sights ever again. How grateful I am that someone had the vision to film this for posterity, and even in color. I still feel today that a train without a caboose is missing something, almost as if it is naked at the end. We cannot stop progress, but we still yearn for the past. I don't necessarily romanticize this period entirely, because these men worked very hard dangerous jobs, and likely not for a whole lot of money. I had a question about the pipe train. Where was that pipe manufactured? Where is that pipe headed to? Is it cast iron or steel pipe? I was a welder in my youth, so metallurgy interests me. I remember cabooses as if it were yesterday. You almost always received a nice wave hello from the caboose. I'll be a train nut to my final day. I even rode the West Cost freight trains during a time (1970's) when the railroads would look the other way often enough. Now you go to jail. My favorite freight jump was Eureka to Willits or San Luis Obispo to Oakland. Eureka to Willits was that the old Northwestern Pacific line along the Eel River, and it is gone for good. I realize many train enthusiasts are against freight riders, but if you weren't there, you will never grasp the joy. It's like Huckleberry Finn on a steel rail. It's about freedom and adventure. I'm now old narrow gauge with good memories.
The pipe was going to the oil fields in Farmington, nm. It's basically a sad case of the railroad delivering stuff for a pipeline that would end the need for the railroad's tank cars carrying the crude oil. A lot more is explained in the full DVD documentary www.cspmovies.com
There remain 2 lengthy tourist lines on these rails. Cumbres & Toltec between Antinito, CO & Chama, NM. Durango & Silverton which runs between those cities. Yes, the freight & mining is gone, but the spirit &steam is still alive.
@@BudmanPackfan Thanks for correcting me. I must go see this narrow gauge running on steam. A tourist line is better than no operating line at all. Best wishes to you.
Wasn't it a very expensive endeavor to film in these early days of color film? This footage and sound quality are wondrous. How did they manage to get movie theater quality? This is way above home movies of that era. It seems this footage came from an absolute professional.
This is real Narrow Gauge Freight Railroading! More at www.cspmovies.com
I was spending the summer with my grandparents in Garden City, KS the summer of 1966. My grandmother drove out to Walsenburg, CO to visit her younger brothers daughter (her niece, my cousin) who was recovering from Gaul Bladder surgery. Earlier that spring, I had acquired a copy of Trains Magazine with the Glen Brewer feature about the D&RGW narrow gauge operations in 1965. Somehow, I managed to convince my grandmother to take the long way home to Garden City via Alamosa and Antonito, CO. During our drive south along US285, we passed two northbound freights, one pulled by I think a K36 and the other was a double-header. As we were making our approach to Antonito, we were lucky enough to pace a south bound freight all the way into town. What a treat. Too bad I didn't pack my Kodak Instamatic camera for the trip. The memories are forever ingrained in my brain however. Thanks for posting!
There is something so incredibly fascinating, yet melancholy, about this remarkable footage. Those hard working men are all gone. The mines are mainly gone. Narrow gauge is gone. Most of these train lines are gone for good. We will see none of these amazing sights ever again. How grateful I am that someone had the vision to film this for posterity, and even in color. I still feel today that a train without a caboose is missing something, almost as if it is naked at the end. We cannot stop progress, but we still yearn for the past. I don't necessarily romanticize this period entirely, because these men worked very hard dangerous jobs, and likely not for a whole lot of money. I had a question about the pipe train. Where was that pipe manufactured? Where is that pipe headed to? Is it cast iron or steel pipe? I was a welder in my youth, so metallurgy interests me. I remember cabooses as if it were yesterday. You almost always received a nice wave hello from the caboose. I'll be a train nut to my final day. I even rode the West Cost freight trains during a time (1970's) when the railroads would look the other way often enough. Now you go to jail. My favorite freight jump was Eureka to Willits or San Luis Obispo to Oakland. Eureka to Willits was that the old Northwestern Pacific line along the Eel River, and it is gone for good. I realize many train enthusiasts are against freight riders, but if you weren't there, you will never grasp the joy. It's like Huckleberry Finn on a steel rail. It's about freedom and adventure. I'm now old narrow gauge with good memories.
The pipe was going to the oil fields in Farmington, nm. It's basically a sad case of the railroad delivering stuff for a pipeline that would end the need for the railroad's tank cars carrying the crude oil. A lot more is explained in the full DVD documentary www.cspmovies.com
There remain 2 lengthy tourist lines on these rails. Cumbres & Toltec between Antinito, CO & Chama, NM. Durango & Silverton which runs between those cities. Yes, the freight & mining is gone, but the spirit &steam is still alive.
@@BudmanPackfan Thanks for correcting me. I must go see this narrow gauge running on steam. A tourist line is better than no operating line at all. Best wishes to you.
@@charlessmileyvideos I appreciate your explanation and reply. I figured that pipe had to have a reasonably close destination.
This video stands out above many others. Even from here.
Outstanding Video Presentation ! THANK YOU !!!!!
Great, great history
Good show, . . . .
Wasn't it a very expensive endeavor to film in these early days of color film? This footage and sound quality are wondrous. How did they manage to get movie theater quality? This is way above home movies of that era. It seems this footage came from an absolute professional.
Professional Photographer WITH a Professional 16MM sound Camera for sure
Another rerun 😢