The Great Train Ride

  we decided we needed a rest today so went for a train ride into the mountains.   The senery was beautiful but after 4 hours at 10 mph over rough tracks with 200 kids we were as tired as skiing all day.

                George has lots of grandkids so the train shop has his attention, boy were they happy to see him.

                 Things are quiet before the arrival of the school kids.  They added 2 additional cars to handle everyone and the kids ran nonstop from the front car to the rear and return.

                   We had expected additional snow last night but no luck.  There was quiet a bit of snow remaining the higher we went.

                  Curves in the mountains make for some great shots of the train.

                  The tracks run along a deep gourge with the Antmas river running fast.  Summer brings white water rafters to this area.

      The train stops at Cascade Canyon for lunch and turns around for the return trip to Durango.  Lots of beautiful senery, no not George feeding his face.

     George checks out the old steam engine and tries to convince the school kids he is not as old as the train.

     I check out the coal and water tender.  The engine uses 3500 gal of water for steam on each trip.

                                                       Our  driver.

                                                    Kids KNEW I  was as old as the train.

           Down hill all the way home.
Check back tomorrow, it will be Georges last ski day.