Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad



IMG_4711We went for a ride on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad.  It is a little steam-powered four mile long line that follows an old standard gauge rail bed.  From what I could tell, none of the rolling stock or other equipment was native to the area but it is a fun little train nonetheless.
IMG_4721One of the engines that hasn’t come out of winter hibernation yet.  Behind this engine is another that looks to be undergoing a major overhaul.

IMG_4722Most of the engines on the line come from Mexico.

IMG_4723This engine wasn’t in service today.

IMG_4726The train backing into the station.

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IMG_4729Nice old engine that is kept up well.

IMG_4730It is a coal-burning engine.

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IMG_4737The little station as we pull away on our trip.

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IMG_4741One of the original stations in Cripple Creek is now the district museum.

IMG_4745Looking back at the wye where the train turns around at the end of every run.

IMG_4746Big dark storm clouds on the horizon to the north of Cripple Creek.

IMG_4748A ramshackled collection of buildings.

IMG_4751The blackness started to blot out the sky.

IMG_4752Old shacks.

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IMG_4756Tailing piles.

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Heading through a rail cut.

IMG_4760Track gang replacing ties.

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IMG_4769Coal smoke from the engine with big tailing piles behind.

IMG_4771Big filled in run across a dry wash.  According to the narration on the train, the rock in this cut has fairly high gold content but it is prohibitively expensive to reclaim the gold at this point in time.

IMG_4772An adit on the hillside.

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IMG_4775At another wye where we turn around for the trip back to the station.  The railroad doesn’t reach Victor.  Maybe someday they’ll push it the rest of the way to Cripple Creek’s sister town.

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Looking south toward where the Arkansas River flows.



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Train picture!

IMG_4785Backing out onto the end of the wye.

IMG_4786No track beyond this point.

IMG_4790End of the line!

IMG_4792Tailing piles from the big strip mine.

IMG_4794Cute little coupler.  It looks like the individual cars don’t have any brakes on them.

IMG_4797Big storm cloud.

IMG_4798Cap on a shaft for one of the bigger hard rock mines in the area.

IMG_4803Heading back to Cripple Creek.

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IMG_4827The storm is starting to dump some rain north of Cripple Creek.

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Onto the wye to back into the station.

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IMG_4838Old parts and whatnot.

IMG_4842Boxcar storage.

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IMG_4851This engine needs a little work.

A Ride on the Sumpter Valley Railroad


The McEwen Depot on the Sumpter Valley Railroad.  This is the downhill terminus of the railroad at present.  Someday it will be extended further toward Baker City.

 A long wrench serves as the door stop.

 

 Looking downhill in the direction of the future track to Baker City.

 A log car sitting on the siding.

 

I believe this is the bottom of an old gold dredge.  Three gold dredges tore up the Sumpter Valley over a 40 year period.  What was once a lush meadow is now a bunch of piles of rock.

 

 

 The historical railway.

 

 Engine #3 pulls into the station with the train.

 

 Yes.  Those are antlers on the train.

 

 

 Getting ready to head out of the McEwen Depot.

 

 Filling up with wood and water.

 

 In one of the original passenger coaches.

Heading out of the Sumpter Depot.

 Looking toward the mountains.

 A maintenance and fire tending crew waiting for the train to pass

Rolling along on the Sumpter Valley Railroad.

The history of the Sumpter Valley Railroad

Bandits fire at the train in order to get it to stop so they can rob it for gold.

Getting held up for gold.

 The bandits saluting the train.

 An old water tower.

 

 Arriving at the depot.

 

 At the Sumpter Depot.

The bandits talking to the train passengers and posing for pictures.

Meacham and Trains Pulling the Grade

 

The old Oregon Trail route has been in continual use since the first pioneers (and probably prior to that with Native Americans).  Now there are big freight trains and long haul trucks that rumble through the woods.

 

 

 

 

 The old town of Meacham has a few residents still.

 All of them were at the local fire station for a meeting.

 Yes, that vintage fire truck really is the main defense of the surrounding area to fires.