My family and I went out exploring this weekend. First we stopped by the museum in Gunnison, CO and found that it had closed for the weekend. We then decided to just keep exploring Colorado and headed towards Lake City, CO where we discovered some D&RGW equipment being restored on somone's property.
We then proceeded to Creede, CO where we came across the old passenger depot. From Creede, CO we headed toward Wagon Wheel Gap, CO where we came across some of the old D&RGW track and trestles.
Next to the depot we found D&RGW caboose 04043. Finally we came across an old D&RGW truss bridge near South Fork, CO. We hope to go back and explore some more when we have more daylight. Ben
I have been to South Fork--what route did you take from GJ to Creede? Are there still rails from South Fork to Creede? Amazing how the tracks are still in place!
Hemi, We left GJ on Highway 50 to Montrose, then on to Gunnison. From Gunnison we turned on to CO 149 to Lake City, Creede, and finally South Fork. The rails are still in place and their is hope that trains will return to the line. We even saw someone loading an old orange D&RGW Fairmont Speeder on to a trailer at a crossing in South Fork. I would have snapped a picture but it was getting to dark. This sparked my interest so I researched the area and came across the website below. Ben Wagon Wheel Gap Route Home
Any more pics? I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread. Shows me what is up north on the Creede Branch when I went thru South Fork to Durango in 2005.
Sorry Hemi but that is all that I have. I am planning on trying to go back there soon and this time I will make an effort to get there before the sun goes down. I'll be sure to post more pictures for you as soon as I get back from the next trip. Ben
Trip Number 2 I loaded up the family again and we headed back to explore more of the D&RGW routes. First we stopped in Cimarron, CO and checked out their displays.
From there we went to Creede, CO and took the self guided 4WD road mine tour and then proceeded to South Fork, CO where we took the following images.
I also had shot a couple of track pictures between Creede and South Fork. Leaving Creeded, CO A Crossing Looking Towards Creede, CO Looking Towards South Fork, CO
After leaving South Fork, CO we noticed that their was an abundance of old Grande box cars used as storage sheds on the farms. My wife thinks that the highway between South Fork and Del Norte is the capital of the Rio Grande Box cars. Here are some of our finds along the highway. You might have also noticed part of a spine car that was captured in the bottom of the first picture. I have never seen so many spine cars before. They are set from South Fork, CO all the way to Monte Vista, CO. Judging by the weed growth around the cars I would say that they have been staged here for a long time.
