The Rail Runner

[Bret_D]

I left my RV site and caught a bus to the South Capitol station in Santa Fe, NM. The train pulled into the station on time, at 0740. I boarded and bought my day pass ($11) with the intent of riding end-to-end of the 97 mile route. The train traveled northbound for about 2,500 feet and stopped at the Santa Fe depot, end of track. I asked the conductor when the next southbound train would leave. 1302! OK, I'll explore the state capitol a bit. I walked back to the station where I first borded the train. Another northbound train arrived to disgorge its commuters.

 

[Bret_D]

There was a caboose on display.

 

[Bret_D]

I walked north again. Here's a shot of the trackage between Capitol and Santa Fe.

 

[Bret_D]

Here's a car interior.

 

[Bret_D]

Back at the Santa Fe depot, end of track is just that. Ahead is the free shuttle bus that loops around downtown.

 

[Bret_D]

The cab end.

 

[Bret_D]

The old depot.

 

[Bret_D]

Shots of some locos.

 

[Bret_D]

Remnant of the Santa Fe Southern Railway.

 

[Bret_D]

This area is called the Rail Yards. I read a little before visiting, but most of the establishments appeared to still be asleep. A little park close by had walking paths bordered in rail, and the ends of the paths were denoted by a wheelset (welded in place. Darn, that would have been fun to roll.)

 

[Bret_D]

Here's a detail shot of the concrete ties (sleepers) and the method for attaching the rails.

 

[Bret_D]

Signage abounds.

 

[Bret_D]

You are here.

 

[Bret_D]

Some more train details.

 

[Bret_D]

The depot has seen better days.

 

[Bret_D]

"Rail Yard" area, looking south. Wooden ties here. (The sidewalks have rail embedded in them [no flangeways], keeping with the theme. Sort of. The rails on the sidewalk are flush with the surface, same at the roads, resulting in about a six inch drop between the rails as they transition between the sidewalk and road surface.)

 

[Bret_D]

Time for a test. What is this?

 

[Bret_D]

In my wanderings, I happened upon a little cafe called "Macalicious", that served the best macaroni and cheese. Sorry the thought popped into my head and I want another helping of that 4 cheese, all bubbly and piping hot from the oven.

But it's was time to head south.

Here's the desert, south of Santa Fe.

 

[Bret_D]

More desert scenery.

 

[Bret_D]

The station names are on posts high enough to be read from the upper level.