Alamosa , Colorado

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We had several reasons for visiting Alamosa, Colorado. One of the biggest reasons was to ride the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad narrow gauge steam train. We chose to ride the LaVeta Pass route on their first class service.

On our trip up the mountain, we passed a spot where several railroad cars had overturned. They were private cars from Coors Brewery. They had been filled with hops and barley. Several attempts were made to cover the hops and barley with dirt but the Bears kept finding it. After a while it fermented underground and NOW the bears really wanted it ! A real site to see is the drunken bears leaning on the trees after enjoying too much fermentation! Hillarious !

Starting in 1878, Alamosa was connected to Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo by the D&RG railroad. Entrance into the San Luis Valley was via 9,380 foot La Veta Pass. Passenger service between Alamosa and Denver continued until 1953.

Because of political and financial problems in another part of the state, the Denver & Rio Grande's San Luis Valley expansion was halted until 1880. Then tracks were laid south, through the LaJara, on to Antonito, and over Cumbres Pass to Chama, New Mexico. By 1881, Alamosa and Durango were connected by rails.

The Alamosa valley is now famous for exporting potatoes. Most of their potatoes are sold to "Lays" potatoe chip company for use in various potatoe products.

Alamosa is surrounded by the Sangre DeCristo Mountain range. This valley occupies an area about the size of the state of Connecticut in south-central Colorado. There is much to do here if you are interested in trains and sights to see.

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The new park and preserve, established in November, 2002 is approximately 150,000 acres, about 3/4 the size of Rocky Mountain National Park. The park contains the highest dunes in North America at 750 feet in height. These dunes reach over 8,700 feet above sea level. The main dune field measures aout 30 square miles in area, surrounded by smaller dunes.

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Photos

San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad
This steam train ride took us up over LaVeta Pass. Here we are ready to board the train.

Oh Boy ! The train is coming !
This is Diane and granddaughter Arden.

Waiting for the train !
The boys are really excited !

Bill gets a special seat
Bill was able to get into the engine cab ----made his day !

In the Parlor Car
What a nice way to travel ! I bet this was a hoot back in the good ole days !

Our Entertainment
On the top of LaVeta Pass, we stopped for the Michael Martin Murphy concert. On the way back, members of the band along with the President of the railroad were singing and picking for us in our private car !

Our on board band !
The singers that performed at the Michael Martin Murphy concert are from left to right, Bob Bovee, Gail Heil, Fred Hargrove and Ed Ellis , owner of the railroad. They were very nice and entertaining as well !

A Nice Duet
Here is Fred and our hostess singing a nice duet ! She has a fabulous voice !

The Great Sand Dunes
Look at the size of the people and you can get some idea of the immense size of the dunes.

Zapata Falls
Zapata Falls is a short hike up the mountain. Wear water shoes, your feet will get wet. Some of us get a little wetter than others when we sit down in the water.

The old Cathedral
This little church sits high atop the mountain and is quite beautiful. Even more impressive are the 12 stations of the cross all life size and carved in bronze. Beautiful !

One of the 12 stations of the cross
Christ falls for the third time.