A cab ride on the former Carrizo Pass Railway

[JCitron]

http://youtu.be/L66pfI5fuqY

This is a ride through the Carizzo Gorge on the former San Diego Arizona and Eastern.

The history of the line is very interesting and confusing, and the Wikipedia article on current operations is worse.

The ride starts as this MOW train is loading up with some heavy equipment climbing off of a flatbed truck on to a flatcar. We then ride in the cab of one of their old F7s.

The countryside is south Desert hills, covered with igneous rock (it appears as such), lots of small boulders, and very steep gorges and hills. It would make an interesting route for Trainz.

John

 

[sawyer811]

always did like the old SD&AE. Say what you want about the sanity (or lack there of) of those that built the railroad, but it sure does go through some pretty scenery!

I've got this route in my MSTS installation back home. I need to dig it up next time I visit down from college and see if I can figure out where some of this is.

 

[JCitron]

I wondered about their sanity too when building this line. It not only has some really steep grades, but tunnels and sharp curves. It definitely wasn't a speedy line.

John

 

[cascaderailroad]

At least framerates will not be slaying the route, due to billions of Speed Twees (maybe a few Speed Tumbleweeds) ... the route looks like it is in no danger of forest fires, unless bolders become flammable :hehe:

 

[narrowgauge]

John

Is that full stop in the Youtube name intentional or a typo? Most enjoyable video.

Peter

 

[JCitron]

Hi Peter,

I think that's part of the name.

I'm glad you liked the video.

 

[JCitron]

Part Two - return

Here's part two the return westbound.

http://youtu.be/NYt91UpxH6U

 

[felix_g]

Thanks John, very impressive!
Those gallery cars look a little bit out of place.
B&LE 723A... n8phu, you should know that engine...

 

[hauntedclipp]

Goodness, old AMT and Metra(?) cars! What are they all doing there? Do they plan to use them once the line is reopened?

 

[JCitron]

The old passenger cars are a bit out of place, but I think they may use them for excursion trips at some point. It would be an interesting ride from the flat desert into the hills. The terrain reminds a little bit of what I saw around Carlsbad, NM a few years ago, although that was limestone and not igneous. The area around Carrizo is definitely volcanic. You can see the striations and layers of ash and this is totally different than the sedimentary deposits in New Mexico, Wyoming, or the Dakotas.

John