[atsf37l]

One crisp morning in the spring of 1937, RGS 22 pounded up the grade out of Durango near Cima with a ten car work train of rail, ties, ballast and sectionmen all ready to do battle with the washouts along the Dolores River.











It all started with a desire to turn a short box car into work car 01762. That grew into 0252 and 0256 and before I knew it I had "borrowed" some rail and tie loads from the St.L&NA and gone completely nuts! ;)

And how about those drop bottoms? Sweet, Mr. Pratt!

[pnrailway]

Very nice shots there my friend, very nice indeed. I look forward to seeing more in this series.

[atsf37l]

OK, if you insist. ;)

Down off of Cima our work extra works the air as it dodges in and out of canyons at the mountain's rim.



Approaching Sponsel spur.



Looking out across Thompson's Park.





Whistling into Grady where we'll stop and set retainers. The grade has been kind of a roller coaster down to here with sags and dips but from here it is pretty steady 2.6%.

[atsf37l]

We've boarded the caboose now and the train is approaching the triple whiplash of loops at East Mancos.



We round the first leg, looking back and down at the water tank, section houses and trestle at East Mancos. We'll be there shortly.



Rounding the end of the loop and starting on the second leg.



Coming into East Mancos.



After taking water we climb up onto the roofwalk of the boxcar section house and watch the train leave East Mancos.

[atsf37l]

The RGS loops back and forth climbing down off of Thompson's Park into the Mancos River Valley.



We climb out onto the flatcar load of ties and look back on our train.



Turning around we catch the 22 crossing the Mancos River on Bridge 125A.



Now we've climbed up on the tender to watch the action. Approaching Mancos.



Since this is not a revenue run we have no work here today and we've already watered up so we'll blow right on through Mancos.



Crossing Chicken Creek just out of Mancos.



As seen from the ground.

[atsf37l]

Our train approached Millwood Summit. Another stop will be made here to set up retainers and check brakes.



Rolling down the north side of Millwood approaching Glencoe, not a care in the world.



All of a sudden some excitement! Steaks on the hoof! And they're pinned against the fence!



They hold their ground and we pass unscathed. Now we see what all those cattle guards and fences are for!



Coming into Glencoe.



Again, we have no need to stop so off we go into Lost Canon.



But that will be left for another day........