476’s Mountains

Story

The winter day was cold and decidedly crisp, as only a winter day in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains can be. However, Engine 476 handles rugged terrain and brutal winters, as 476’s Mountains demonstrates so well.

This scene is nominally the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad but outfitted as if it was the 1970s. With era-correct circus-style lettering, the coaches proclaim themselves to be instead from the long-defunct Center & Rio Grande Western Line. Although you wouldn’t see this train here in the winter, you would see it every other time of the year. It’s been a long time since that, though.

Turtle and Pigeon Mountains, standing tall in the background, watch as 476 chugs through the snow-covered valley, hauling passengers back to Durango, Colorado. Thick, black smoke rises from the diamond stack, and even some stray smoke rings appear!

For me, the joy of being able to photograph a scene that happened yesterday is always a special treat and one that doesn’t come along very often. I delight when I can, though, and what better way to celebrate the 1970s than 476’s Mountains? The power of a steam engine in the winter provides a scene not soon forgotten.