Springtime in the Rockies | Nathan D. Holmes

Originally published on DRGW.Net on May 30, 2010.

The first run-by was near milepost 287.5, where one of the small trestles was recently replaced with a culvert. It’s rumored that the lead greenie was the one who slathered it in green paint, which just so happens to match 489’s boiler…

Sixty years ago on 21-May-1950, the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club sponsored a trip on the narrow gauge from Salida to Monarch to Villa Grove and then back to Salida. For this trip – which cost a mere $4.95 (about $45 in today’s dollars, using the consumer price index) – the Salida shop crews repainted K-36 489 with a green boiler jacket. This is the only time we have conclusive evidence that a K-36 ever had a green jacket on the Rio Grande.

Several years ago, Russ Sperry (“Russo Loco” on NGDF) and other started discussing the possibility of doing a green boiler on 489 as part of a charter. The discussion started as a bit of a joke, I believe as a result of a spirited discussion about how many Grande narrow gauge engines had ever worn green jackets. Over time, though, the idea of actually doing this became progressively more serious. (It also became more of a running gag on NGDF at the same time, with regular cracks being made about Russ’ obsession with painting anything and everything green.) Earlier this year, Russ started a serious effort for a “season in green”, with a request to see who was willing to put up the cash to make it happen if the C&TS would allow it. That eventually turned into the proposal for “Springtime in Rockies” – a photo freight that a green-jacketed 489 would power.. Thanks to the efforts of Russ and Alan Loomis, C&TS conductor and fan trip coordinator, for setting up the trip, and Steve Forney, Nathan Zachman, Jan and Jeff Ellingson, and Jim Poston for throwing in the elbow grease to actually repaint 489, the trip became a reality on Tuesday, 25-May-2010 – just a few days after the 60th anniversary of the first trip.

While the Rocky Club didn’t officially sponsor the trip, president Dave Schaaf was there with the Club’s wooden drumhead – the one built by Ed Haley and Charlie Ryland back in 1947, and almost certainly carried on the rear of the original 1950 green 489 trip. With a little ingenuity (as well as copious bailing wire, wooden shims, and gaffer’s tape), we managed to firmly affix it to the back of the caboose. It seemed historically fitting that the same drumhead from 489’s first green trip would also bring up the rear of it’s recreation, six decades later.

As I said in my NGDF post immediately following the trip – this was a spectacular charter, and one of the best I’ve been on in years. Great weather, good people, and just an all around fun day. Thanks to everyone who was there, and thanks especially to Russ and Alan for making this possible.

Upon first arriving in Antonito, 489 was looking a bit grungy, despite having not made a trip over the road in her new green paint. Thankfully, Russ and Ashley managed to give her a quick bath before departure.

While they were working on the front, RMRRC president Dave Schaaf, Nathan Zachman, and I were working on how to use bailing wire and gaffers tape to hold the RMRRC drumhead on the back of caboose 0306.

489 sitting at the west end of the Antonito balloon track, awaiting departure. You couldn't ask for more beautiful weather than what we got. — 489 sitting at the west end of the Antonito balloon track, awaiting departure. You couldn’t ask for more beautiful weather than what we got.

Striking out into the high desert, about ten minutes early. Nobody else seemed all that interested in the open cupola seats on 0306, so I figured I'd start the trip off right. — Striking out into the high desert, about ten minutes early. Nobody else seemed all that interested in the open cupola seats on 0306, so I figured I’d start the trip off right.

Climbing up the side of the mesa towards Lava with Mount Blanca - some fifty miles distant - in the background. — Climbing up the side of the mesa towards Lava with Mount Blanca – some fifty miles distant – in the background.

The next run-by was on the west side of Lava tank. Don't know why exactly I like this shot - the composition isn't that great and the lighting's a bit screwy - but I like it, so it's here. — The next run-by was on the west side of Lava tank. Don’t know why exactly I like this shot – the composition isn’t that great and the lighting’s a bit screwy – but I like it, so it’s here.

Rio Grande... Through the Weeds, Not Around! Nah, but it was more a run-by for the videographers in the bunch. I tried to get high enough to see the track, but it just didn't work out. — Rio Grande… Through the Weeds, Not Around! Nah, but it was more a run-by for the videographers in the bunch. I tried to get high enough to see the track, but it just didn’t work out.

Arriving at the lower of the Whiplash Curves, we stop for another run-by.

Heading into the lower curve, starting the climb towards the upper loop and Big Horn.

Our special climbs the middle level, with the upper and lower levels also visible.

We arrived at Big Horn with plenty of time to spare before the regular eastbound was due, so we did a quick run-by though the siding.

Ever seen a train on the Big Horn wye? I've only seen it once, years ago, with 19 and ballast cars. With the Big Horn siding in rough shape and stub-ended, our extra clears up on the west leg and tail of the wye. — Ever seen a train on the Big Horn wye? I’ve only seen it once, years ago, with 19 and ballast cars. With the Big Horn siding in rough shape and stub-ended, our extra clears up on the west leg and tail of the wye.

Clearing the east switch at Big Horn - just a few hundred more yards until they're clear of the yard limits. — Clearing the east switch at Big Horn – just a few hundred more yards until they’re clear of the yard limits.

Highball Big Horn! (Okay, I'm cheating, this is really during the run-by, but it fits the story line here.) — Highball Big Horn! (Okay, I’m cheating, this is really during the run-by, but it fits the story line here.)

Making our way west towards Sublette on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. Can't think of a single other place I'd rather be. — Making our way west towards Sublette on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. Can’t think of a single other place I’d rather be.

It's rare to be able to shoot a westbound at Phantom Curve in evening light, but with today's schedule, we get to do just that. Here, 489 passes through the hoodoos that give this place it's reputation. — It’s rare to be able to shoot a westbound at Phantom Curve in evening light, but with today’s schedule, we get to do just that. Here, 489 passes through the hoodoos that give this place it’s reputation.

A little more train-centric shot at Phantom Curve

In what can only be described as perfect light, we get 489 popping out of Toltec (Rock) Tunnel

A lower vantage point from the second run-by

Atop the rock retaining wall immediately outside the tunnel. To think, this used to be a trestle in the early days of the line.

Heading west from Toltec Tunnel, we did our next run-by about half a mile short of Osier, where the line comes around a rock ledge and goes eastward around a small gulch. Russ promised us the moon would be up, so it would duplicate the shot in his trip brochure - does anybody see a moon here? — Heading west from Toltec Tunnel, we did our next run-by about half a mile short of Osier, where the line comes around a rock ledge and goes eastward around a small gulch. Russ promised us the moon would be up, so it would duplicate the shot in his trip brochure – does anybody see a moon here?

Another view, just past the previous one as they were backing up for the run-by.

Coming around the end of the gulch and back towards us (and Osier).

And on to Osier and dinner in the late afternoon light... — And on to Osier and dinner in the late afternoon light…

When we arrived at Osier, 489 was in need of water, so we took the opportunity for a posed shot with the tank.

With watering complete, it was time for us to head inside and chow down on one of Stephen's great meals. Having not eaten since a chicken sandwich at around 1130h, I was definitely ready for it. Meanwhile, the crew took the train down to reverse it on the loop. — With watering complete, it was time for us to head inside and chow down on one of Stephen’s great meals. Having not eaten since a chicken sandwich at around 1130h, I was definitely ready for it. Meanwhile, the crew took the train down to reverse it on the loop.

Just one more additional shot of the train while it was backing up, with the stock pens in the background.

With the train turned around and us fed, I took the opportunity for some more artsy shots.

Train turned and fans fed, it was time for a few cast and crew shots at Osier. Before everybody started posing on 0306, I got a good clear shot of it and the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club drumhead in the evening light.

All of the current RMRRC members on the trip. Top, left to right: Nathan Zachman, Nathan Holmes (me), Steve Forney. Bottom, left to right: George Lawrence, Kevin Corwin, Dave Schaaf, Russ Sperry, Bill Gould, and Jim Poston.

Fearless Leader, or at least RMRRC President Dave Schaaf

The other guys that made this happen - the crew. From left to right: conductor and trip co-coordinator Alan Loomis, engineer Jeff Stebbins, fireman Jake Vigil, and brakeman Ronnie Lopez. — The other guys that made this happen – the crew. From left to right: conductor and trip co-coordinator Alan Loomis, engineer Jeff Stebbins, fireman Jake Vigil, and brakeman Ronnie Lopez.

Just a late evening shot off the back platform

All photographs in this trip report were taken with a Canon EOS 40D or 7D using either a Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS/USM, Sigma 18-50mm, or a Canon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS/USM.

This work is copyright 2024 by Nathan D. Holmes, but all text and images are licensed and reusable under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. Basically you’re welcome to use any of this as long as it’s not for commercial purposes, you credit me as the source, and you share any derivative works under the same license. I’d encourage others to consider similar licenses for their works.