Mother nature's carvings at Toltec Creek
Just west of Toltec Creek, near Milepost 313.7, Denver & Rio Grande C-18 Consolidation #315 charges upgrade past one of the most unique rock formations on the San Juan Extension. Carved by mother nature, not by the railroad, this rock looks for the world (to me, at least) like the head of a horse, overlooking the track. The area just beyond the train is the historic site of the Toltec Section House and water tower and historic photos of this area from this vantage point depict this rock very prominently, albeit with almost no tree cover at all. As can be seen here, the area is now heavily lined with groves of aspen trees, which turn a beautiful golden color in the fall.
This image was captured during a September 2013 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured Denver & Rio Grande Western C-18 Consolidation #315, as well as Denver & Rio Grande Western K-27 Mikado #463. The latter engine is actually on the train depicted here as a mid-train helper.
Mother nature's carvings at Toltec Creek
Just west of Toltec Creek, near Milepost 313.7, Denver & Rio Grande C-18 Consolidation #315 charges upgrade past one of the most unique rock formations on the San Juan Extension. Carved by mother nature, not by the railroad, this rock looks for the world (to me, at least) like the head of a horse, overlooking the track. The area just beyond the train is the historic site of the Toltec Section House and water tower and historic photos of this area from this vantage point depict this rock very prominently, albeit with almost no tree cover at all. As can be seen here, the area is now heavily lined with groves of aspen trees, which turn a beautiful golden color in the fall.
This image was captured during a September 2013 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured Denver & Rio Grande Western C-18 Consolidation #315, as well as Denver & Rio Grande Western K-27 Mikado #463. The latter engine is actually on the train depicted here as a mid-train helper.