My Pecos Valley Southern.
I've always bought old railroad magazines by the box, and articles tend to stick with me. Someone did an article on the Pecos Valley Southern in Trains Magazine about 15 years ago. With my new assignment in Monahans I was happy to see the nice little fringe benefit of being 30 miles from Pecos. So I drove over there today. I found a rusting caboose and a half painted seemingly x-Conrail SW1500 at Pecos. I set sail southward along the line although I knew it was a bad sign when I saw a cut of unattended tank cars spotted on the main less than 2 miles from the UP interchange. Continuing south from there the brush growing in the gauge turned to small trees. I passed the gravel pit, which was the source of traffic for the railroad when the article was written. At the south end of the pit there was a gate closed along the tracks. I pressed on hoping I might see one of their derelict 70 Tonners or find their SW900. Saragosa had been the end of active track for god knows how long. Upon arrival you can see the remains of some railroad crap, but nothing photographable. I followed the line south down a farmers access road to the very obvious end. While searching the internet for signs of their SW900 moving off property (watcunt took over 3 years ago) a farmer hurriedly approached on his quad. After him seeing my New York plates and me telling him what I was after he told me it had been at least 10 years since they had been to Saragosa and 2 or 3 years since they had gone to the quarry. Heartbroken I pointed the RAV north and on the way out stopped to photograph this switchstand, the only railroad thing besides crossbucks and rail left down here. Story to be continued when you see a photo of a half painted white switch engine.
My Pecos Valley Southern.
I've always bought old railroad magazines by the box, and articles tend to stick with me. Someone did an article on the Pecos Valley Southern in Trains Magazine about 15 years ago. With my new assignment in Monahans I was happy to see the nice little fringe benefit of being 30 miles from Pecos. So I drove over there today. I found a rusting caboose and a half painted seemingly x-Conrail SW1500 at Pecos. I set sail southward along the line although I knew it was a bad sign when I saw a cut of unattended tank cars spotted on the main less than 2 miles from the UP interchange. Continuing south from there the brush growing in the gauge turned to small trees. I passed the gravel pit, which was the source of traffic for the railroad when the article was written. At the south end of the pit there was a gate closed along the tracks. I pressed on hoping I might see one of their derelict 70 Tonners or find their SW900. Saragosa had been the end of active track for god knows how long. Upon arrival you can see the remains of some railroad crap, but nothing photographable. I followed the line south down a farmers access road to the very obvious end. While searching the internet for signs of their SW900 moving off property (watcunt took over 3 years ago) a farmer hurriedly approached on his quad. After him seeing my New York plates and me telling him what I was after he told me it had been at least 10 years since they had been to Saragosa and 2 or 3 years since they had gone to the quarry. Heartbroken I pointed the RAV north and on the way out stopped to photograph this switchstand, the only railroad thing besides crossbucks and rail left down here. Story to be continued when you see a photo of a half painted white switch engine.