Chasing the Cumbres and Toltec in the Rain ~ September 29, 2017

Chasing the Cumbres and Toltec in the Rain
September 29, 2017
 
We woke up to more grey skies with just a hint of clearing, so we decided that it might be a good day to do what all good railfans do ... chase the train, stopping at good photo opportunities along the way.  Since Jeff has done this a number of times (about eight or ten), he served as guide for the second car.  Yes, the girls came along and had fun snapping photos with their cell phones!  The clouds were a terrific foil for shots of the fall foliage which was absolutely spectacular.  The deep gold of the cottonwoods here and there and the range of colors for the aspen - from green to yellow-green to bright yellow with pinks every now and then - were jaw-dropping in their beauty.  And, once again, photos cannot do justice.
 
I think I like this picture the best as it captures the stand of pink aspen in the background,
along with the range of greens and yellows in the foreground.


 
Of course, we also took pictures of the train.  I'm sure that my little cell-phone pictures pale beside those taken by the boys with their fancy cameras and lenses, but it gives one a sense of seeing a steam engine pulling narrow-gauge passenger cars through the magnificent (albeit rainy) autumn day.
 



 
Most of the day we managed to stay dry, but occasionally the raindrops fell . . .
 
. . . and yet, the railfan persisted!
 
All in all, a good time was had by everyone as we headed back to the house for dinner and more conversation.  




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