Track details

These photos were taken in September, 1999 in Antonito, Colorado.

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This is the dual gauge display track at Antonito This shows the comparative sizes of the standard gauge (56.5") and the former D&RGW narrow gauge (36"). The coach on the right is on the C&TS passenger train. The double doors are for handicap access. Each train has one of these cars. The "point" on top of the passenger car is actually the roof of the water tank behind the car.

This is the dual gauge switch at Antonito. It shows the complicated construction required for dual gauge trackage. This turnout was originally located in Alamosa at a power plant and moved here by the Friends of the C&TS. One of the frogs is worn so bad that it can no longer be used in service. If the frog had been good (or been replaced), the switch may have been able to be placed in the narrow gauge track on the right. This would have allows the C&TS to lay a third rail from the display track to the original dual gauge rail that is still in the crossing of US 285. This would also have given us the ability to demonstrate how the dual gauge idler car is used by using a narrow gauge loco to move the standard gauge cars. The Colorado Railroad Museum also has a dual gauge idler car but it is also on a display track and not currently available for demonstrating mixed gauge trains.

This is the other end of the dual gauge switch The narrow gauge coach is on the left and the cars in the distance (on the display track) are standard gauge. The building on the right is the Antonito shop building used for running repairs.
The coaches were originally built on top of the thirteen (13) 6500 series steel flat cars.

When the flat cars were used up, standard gauge frames were purchased and the new passenger cars were built using similar techniques.

This is the frog for the crossing of the standard gauge (upper right to lower left) and the common (upper left to lower right) rails. This frog is in good shape.


This is the frog for the crossing of the narrow gauge (upper right to lower left) and the common (upper left to lower right) rails. This is the frog that is worn out.


This is the toad (or reverse frog) of the dual gauge switch. It is for the standard gauge (upper right to lower left) and narrow gauge (upper left to lower right) rails. Along the upper edge of the picture, the rails from left to right are: common rail main, common rail diverging, narrow gauge main, narrow gauge diverging, standard gauge main, and standard gauge diverging.

This is a detail shot of the throw bar for a turnout (the dual gauge turnout at Antonito).

Further throw bar details.

A stub turnout on the D&SNG on the Rockwood, CO turning wye. This is very likely rail from the original laying out of the line in 1882. The stub turnout would have been replace with a more modern point style if the rail had been replaced. This photo was taken in September 1999.

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I may be contacted at douglasvanveelen@mindspring.com