169 T-12 photos

These photos were taken in Alamosa, Colorado in 1984.

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T-12 169 (I think) is being considered for return to service for a new (1999) line proposed for the end of the Creede branch (west from Alamosa).

At one time, Alamosa had four narrow gauge rail lines leaving for the four points of the compass.

North was the San Luis Valley with Hooper and Mineral Hot Springs among its stops before attacking Poncha Pass (a formidable pass except by Colorado standards) and ultimately Salida. This line was abandoned about 1950.

East was La Veta Pass through the Front Range and ultimately the eastern plains. This still exists as a standard gauge line.

West was the Creede Branch that was standard gauged about 1910. The D&RGW/SP/UP have not used much of the last part of the branch into Creede, but Monte Vista is a major agricultural source of traffic.

South is the line to Antonito (now standard gauge but dual gauged until 1970) and then westward to Durango. The D&RGW no longer owns anything past Antonito. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic owns the first 64 miles of line towards Durango (Over Cumbres Pass). The next 100 odd miles from Chama to Durango and the 50 odd miles down to Farmington, New Mexico have had the rails removed. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad owns the former D&RGW Silverton Branch (46 odd miles).

This is business car B-7 (I think). A replica station was built as the Alamosa Chamber of Commerce (in the back ground).

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