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C&TS HOSTS NEW 3-FOOT DMU RAILCAR TEST
Posted Wednesday, November 12 2008 at 1318 h MST
This past weekend (Nov 8-9), the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic hosted a test run of Edwards Rail Car Company's latest creation - a 3-foot gauge diesel-hydraulic passenger car. The car is the first of several to be built for Andean Railways Corp. to haul tourists along the narrow gauge route leading to Aguas Calientes, the jumping off point to Peru's Machu Picchu ruins.

Currently, Ferrocarril Transandino S.A. holds a 30-year concession (granted in 1999) from the Peruvian government on the route, and until recently, their sister company PeruRail S.A. has been the exclusive operator of passenger services to Machu Picchu. However, within the last two years, the Peruvian government has forced FTSA to allow open access to competitors on the route. At least two competitors have emerged - the aforementioned Andean Railways Corp, and Inca Rail.

(As if the railcar tests weren't enough of a local connection, it turns out that Iowa Pacific Holdings - the parent company of the San Luis & Rio Grande - is also a partner in Andean Railways.)

The new railcar is sixty feet long was built by Edwards in Montgomery, AL. The unit, weighing in at 32 tons, is powered by a pair of Cummins 160hp diesel engines. Power is transmitted to three hydraulic motors - one main motor on each truck connected via chain to the inboard axle, and an emergency backup on the front-most axle. The 60 passenger car can make 30 mph on level track, and sustain 25 mph on a 3.2% grade. In addition, it's a true DMU, capable of multiple unit operation with four of its peers.

Steve Torrico, President of Edwards (and whom many of you will remember as Railstar's superintendent at the Georgetown Loop), was along for the trial runs, and has posted photos of the new car and its test trips on [this RyPN thread].
- NDHolmes

2009 NATIONAL NARROW GAUGE CONVENTION IN COLO SPRGS
Posted Friday, November 7 2008 at 0852 h MST
The site of the 29th National Narrow Gauge Convention has been announced - Colorado Springs! (Perhaps this is just exciting since, well, I live here...) The event will take place September 16-19, 2009, at the COS Doubletree, and will cater to both modelers and those interested only in the real thing. Details on the event can be found on the [official website]. - NDHolmes

NEW TRIP REPORT - D&S FALL PHOTO SPECIAL
Posted Tuesday, November 4 2008 at 0810 h MST
In an effort to clear some of the backlog of content that's been building up, waiting to be posted, I've managed to finish another trip report. This one covers the Durango & Silverton's annual Fall Photographers Special, held September 27-28, 2008. While this year was cursed with a significant amount of cloud cover and drizzling rain, there were still some neat shots to be had (some made possible by the diffuse light). For those interested in seeing the results, the new trip report is [here]. - NDHolmes

SLRG ANNOUNCES WINTER LA VETA PASS RUNS
Posted Monday, November 3 2008 at 1629 h MST
The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad (the passenger operation of the San Luis & Rio Grande) has announced that they'll be running a diesel-powered winter train from Alamosa to La Veta on weekends, known as the "Winter Wonderland Express". The train will depart Alamosa at 0900h on Saturdays and Sundays, lay over in La Veta for an hour for lunch, and then return to Alamosa by 1645h. Cost for a dome ticket (and trust me, that's the way to go) is $58. Details can be found on their website [here].

But wait, there's more... The SLRG/RGSR is offering significant savings on multi-ticket purchases for dome car seats on their new winter service for trains between 1-Nov-2008 and 15-Jan-2008. Once you purchase one full fare dome ticket, you get the second at 50% off, the third at 75% off, and the fourth one free. (If you need more than that, you'll have to buy another full fare ticket, and the same deal repeats.) Details on the offer are [here]. - NDHolmes

Past Rio Grande News...