©1999 Steve Barry steve@daylightimages.com
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The faithful shoot Rio Grande 497 as it approaches the line's midway point at Osier. Regular trains stop here for lunch, but charter passengers were given a box lunch to maximize time on the line for runbys.
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The regular train arrives from Antonito behind K-27 class ("Mudhen") 463. As soon as the 463's train was in the clear, the charter departed.
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Photo stops at inaccessible locations highlighted the trip. Rio Grande 497 storms around Phantom Curve through the unusual rock formations.
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Beyond Big Horn the landscape turns from Aspen to rough sage and scrubby pine. Rio Grande 497 runs beneath crystal clear skies in the sageland.
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The final runby of September 27th was held at Ferguson's Trestle, so named for a person who was hanged from it back in the wild west days. Ahead lies some relatively flat running to the town of Antonito, Colorado, where charter patrons had every motel room in town booked up.
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