Train To Nowhere
Up in northern New Mexico’s coal country in 1905, the St. Louis, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Company was formed to consolidate many of the coal mines in the area. The company also established or took over several small towns in the area. At its peak, the company controlled close to 1000 square miles of northern NM with a near monopoly on the regional coal sales.
In 1907, the company established the St. Louis, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Railway Company to guarantee transportation for coal and coke traffic. The 120 miles of the line connected to three major railroads; the Santa Fe being the closest to the mining activities.
At that time, the swastika was a symbol of good luck; the railroad was also known as the Swastika Line (many of the older buildings in Raton* have swastikas embedded into the structures).
The railroad was sold to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe in 1913 who ran it as a subsidiary and changed the name to the Rocky Mountain and Santa Fe Railway Company in 1915.
Following my not-unusual habit of not only not taking the road less travelled but following something more akin to two parallel footpaths – south of Raton, north of Maxwell, west of I-25, south of the Canadian River – I came upon this cluster of ruins, the most prominent of which was this old passenger car. Up under the roof – somewhat protected from the sun, wind, and rain – were the barely discernible letters “cific Railw“.
Judging by the letter spacing, it appears this car was lettered for the 1907 line. Other evidence suggested it may have been used for a bunkhouse at someone’s homestead; it is/was not near the assumed railroad. Putting scraps of information together, it appears this car may have been scrapped by the railroad, then bought and moved, when the railroad was sold to the Santa Fe in 1913 as all-wooden cars were being replaced with steel by 1910.
By its style, this car was probably built in the late 1880s to 1890s.
*Raton was a major Santa Fe railroad hub at one time; it supported helper engines for going over Raton Pass on the Colorado, New Mexico border, immediately to the north. Remnants of the roundhouse and other facilities are still evident. When I was there, the BNSF still maintained a small yard and Amtrak passed through although this was no longer a main line.
DT you have a beautiful way of bringing life to abandoned early America. I let my imagination loose for a moment and could see the people living there, hustling and bustling, wondering what tomorrow might bring. I would like to know what the white band on the high mountain contains.
It’s likely a limestone bedding layer.
Highway 12 out of Trinidad still has a row of coke ovens across the road from Cokedale.
Love that area; it has most everything I do outdoors, with fewer people.
When I lived in Raton, we’d often go shopping in Trinidad. Hwy 12 is an interesting road – better yet as you mentioned, not full of people. We’d drive from Raton to Questa to Ft Garland, then come back down 12 to Trinidad, then over the pass back to Raton.
A work-friend hosted a cooking show on a local Trinidad TV station. It’s been a long time; I can’t recall his name. Liked the area, didn’t like Raton.
There will be more photos from the area
Trump Announces $2,000 ‘Tariff Dividend’ To Be Paid To Most Americans————————————————————
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-announces-2000-tariff-dividend-be-paid-most-americans
Nope. Don’t want it. Won’t accept it.
If they send it I’ll treat it just like I did the covid payouts.
Right into the shitcan.
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There is no free lunch and I won’t pretend there is.
See, I kind of believe in a karma-like thing. Call it spectral if you want. If you step off the truth and honesty path it will circle back and get you in that ass.
If I didn’t earn it then I don’t want it.
Take the money. You did earn it. Look at it as a tax refund. (though I suspect the IRS will claim it is income and should be taxed … again.)
Atta boy! You’re catchin’ on.
The gov’t doesn’t do anything without some sort of catch.
While we didn’t accept any of the covid buyouts we got harassed about why didn’t we use them.
More than once, in my 40 years in business, the IRS told me I didn’t pay them enough. So I sent them more, then, a few years later they admit an error and send me a refund, which is now income and must be taxed.
I don’t want any favors, from anyone. Ever. I only want what I pay for.
Take the dinero and buy a new gun. $2K you could get a pretty good rifle and piece of glass to top it.
Unless an exceptional deal pops up, I may never buy another gun.
I build them instead.
Last 4 guns were all built by me.
Started with used receivers bought with cash from private owners.
Then, do research and purchase parts and tools.
I’m currently working on a kit for a 18th century flintlock pistol in 50 cal. No registration required. Next year I plan to build a long gun same cal.
We got snow!!! It’s that BIG granular type, like ice crystals. Started about 2pm today and is going on still at 7pm. That type usually doesn’t last. But the temp right now is about 32 and dropping, so we’ll see.
Guess I need to carry my ass out in the workshop and try to remember where I put the 5 gal bucket of ice-melt. When that deck is icy it’s dangerous.