Historic trains and fall colors: A match made in Colorado heaven
By
Seth BosterOctober 7, 2024 | updated 2 years ago
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad climbs Cumbres Pass from Chama, N.M., to Antonio, Colo., through the turning aspens Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The railroad was started by Colorado Springs city founder Willam J. Palmer in 1882. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)
Come fall in Colorado, many of us drive among the golden aspen trees. Others get out to hike. And others heed a certain, loud whistle that echoes through the forests, through time, along with a certain call: “All aboard!”
For their annual showcase of the season, Gazette photographers took to Colorado’s historic train tracks — these tracks that once carried miners and supplies through the mountains of a developing state and now carry tourists.
And wise photographers.
“When you’re driving you have the distractions of the road — traffic, parking, noise, etc,” said Gazette photographer Parker Seibold. “On a train, you get to just sit back, relax and enjoy it. Many of the trains have open-air cars, so you get to hear the sounds of the mountains around you, feel the breeze and smell the change of the seasons.”
And maybe learn some history. Seibold did so along the Leadville Railroad, listening to a conductor’s narration as the train rolled through the aspen-splashed scenery known by gritty passengers in the late 19th century.
Meanwhile, fellow staff photographer Jerilee Bennett captured scenes around another old silver mining epicenter. The Georgetown Loop Railroad runs along a narrow gauge that was considered an engineering marvel in the 1880s.
And Christian Murdock headed to the state’s southwest San Juan Mountains. The Gazette’s photo editor took to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the former ore transport that opened in 1882.
On the way home, Murdock swung over to the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Beginning in 1880, the San Luis Valley tracks served as an extension to the silver mines of the San Juans.
“The fun thing about shooting the trains and aspens is, 150 years ago, it would have looked the same,” Murdock observed. “The technology of photography has changed, but the aspens, trains and fall is the same. It’s like traveling back in time.”
With this gallery, the team invites you to travel along.
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad climbs Cumbres Pass from Chama, N.M., to Antonio, Colo., through the turning aspens Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The railroad was started by Colorado Springs city founder Willam J. Palmer in 1882. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A puff of steam rises from the engine as it starts crossing the High Bridge of the Georgetown Loop Railroad with a backdrop of the changing aspen trees last month. The tourist train travels between Georgetown and Silver Plume, both old mining towns. (Jerilee Bennett, pikes peak courier)Susan Zumergrad looks out at the changing aspens from a scenic ride on the Leadville Railroad last month. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette)The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam engine crosses the High Bridge above the Animas Riverlast week as it travels from Silverton to Durango. The train has been transporting passengers from the two Colorado towns since 1882. (Christian Murdock, pikes peak courier)Turning aspens glow in the sun near Purgatory Resort outside Durango last week. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Tourists take photos of the golden aspens while riding in the open-air train on the Georgetown Loop Railroad last month. The tourist train travels between Georgetown and Silver Plume, both old mining towns. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Yellow aspens are reflected on the windows of a railcar of the Leadville Railroad last month. As passengers take in the views of the changing trees and surrounding mountains, the conductor narrates the colorful history of the area. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette)Passengers take in the fall colors from a scenic ride on the historic Leadville Railroad, Friday, Sept. 27. Originally owned by the Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad the “highline” was completed in 1884. In 1987, it was bought from by Burlington Railroad by Leadville locals Ken and Stephanie Olsen. The couple purchased two GP9 Diesel electric locomotives, eight flat cars, four boxcars, five cabooses, the roundhouse, over 14 miles of track and thousands of railroad ties, spikes and rails — for the whopping cost of $10. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette)The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train crosses the Animas River as it arrives into Silverton. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A large grove of changing aspens creates a bright yellow foreground to the Sawatch Mountain Range last week. (Parker Seibold, pikes peak courier)Liz DeLisa from Brighton watches the turning aspens from the open-air passenger car on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train as it travels from Silverton to Durango last week. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A railroad crossing sign for the Leadville Railroad is seen last month. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette)Tourists pass close by the golden aspens while riding in the open-air train on the Georgetown Loop Railroad last month. The tourist train travels between Georgetown and Silver Plume, both old mining towns. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The train crew jumps onboard after stopping at a water station to fill the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge steam engine last week between Silverton and Durango. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train crosses the Animas River as it leaves the Durango train station for Silverton last week. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Clockiwse from left: The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train follows the Animas River shortly after leaving Silverton toward Durango as the sun spotlights the turning trees last month. A large grove of changing aspens creates a bright yellow foreground to the Sawatch Mountain Range last week. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam engine crosses the High Bridge above the Animas River last week as it travels from Silverton to Durango. The train has been transporting passengers from the two Colorado towns since 1882. (Christian Murdock, pikes peak courier)The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad climbs Cumbres Pass from Chama, N.M., to Antonito through the turning aspens last week. The railroad was started by Colorado Springs founder Gen. Willam Jackson Palmer in 1882. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)
