In the early 1950s, Denver & Rio Grande's narrow gauge lines in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico were fading away. In 1954 the club began a Memorial Day tradition of excursions on the remaining narrow gauge lines which lasted until 1966.
In an era when rail-fans donned suit and tie to chase trains, carried their trusty Brownie and Speed Graphic cameras, and counted their exposures more carefully than their lunch money, a young Stan Rhine ponied up his 20 bucks and joined the fun. Rubbing elbows with other club members like Otto Perry, Richard Kindig, Mac Poor and Bob Richardson, Dr. Rhine captured shots of both familiar and vanished locations on film.
For the first time in print, he tells the story of these start-of-summer weekend rail jaunts. He also touches on some of the club's other narrow gauge excursions and, as a bonus, gives us the story of the last narrow gauge passenger train movement from Alamosa.
Contents:
Introduction, Abandoning the Narrow Gauge, pp. 6-10,
Alamosa, pp. 11-17,
Leaving Town, pp. 18-21,
The Narrow Gauge, pp. 22-24,
Climbing, Ever Climbing, pp. 25-34,
Cumbres Pass, pp. 35-39,
Chama, pp. 40-42,
On to Durango, 43-50,
Carbon Junction and Farmington, pp. 51-55,
Durango, pp. 56-64,
On to Silverton, pp. 65-79,
Silverton, pp. 80-81,
Return To Alamosa, pp. 82-102,
Epilogue, pp. 103-105,
The Last Passenger Train from Alamosa, pp. 106-110,
A Note on Sources, pg. 111,
Index of Illustrations, pg. 112.
White River Productions, softcover, 112 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in., B&W and color photographs and illustrations, grade charts.
