Presidential Photographers Special: 2009

Engineer Bill Colley, longtime employee of the Durango & Silverton, takes control of the 473 as he guides her towards her train for the day.

Profile of the 473 against Smelter Mountain.

Fireman Mike May places the white flags on the front of the locomotive, denoting that this trains is an "Extra" or "Unscheduled" train. The Durango and Silverton still runs on Timetable based schedule. Their regular trains authority is based upon this, and in a way, the same trains that leave Durango daily during the summer, are the same scheduled trains that left Durango over sixty years ago.

Engineer Bill Colley rests before He'll guide the train out of the Durango Depot.

Brakeman Mike Nichols stands on the open platform of the "Cinco Animas" at Rockwood. Here, the train will stop to pick up some other passengers who chose to drive up.

Brakeman Mike Nichols stands on the open platform of the "Cinco Animas" at Rockwood. Here, the train will stop to pick up some other passengers who chose to drive up. (note: this is an edited upload after trying out some software by NIK... enjoy)

Brakeman Mike Nichols stands on the open platform of the "Cinco Animas" at Rockwood. Here, the train will stop to pick up some other passengers who chose to drive up.

Our first runby of the Day.

Along the Animas River.

Somewhere south of Silverton, the tracks are still skirting the Rio de Las Animas Perditas, "The River of Lost Souls" as it has most of the way since Rockwood.

Just South of Silverton, this is the narrowest part of the river gorge that the railroad shares with the river.

Cataract Falls

Just South of Silverton, this is the narrowest part of the river gorge that the railroad shares with the river. But the best view is up, as "Cataract Falls" spills into the Animas River.

Bill and Mike tend to the 473 before turning the train for the return departure to Durango.

Silverton Depot Detail

Warning on an old water cistern car located on the spur tracks in Silverton. If this sign is from D&RGW days, I am amazed by the condition in which it's in.

The "Tri Color Herald" from 473's Tender... Personally I love it.

Fireman Mike May walks on the tender deck to check the water level for the return trip.

473 Crossing the Animas River Bridge to the south of Silverton.

473 Crossing the Animas River Bridge to the south of Silverton.

While the original Needleton Tank is no longer in service, we stop to do a "static runby" as Mike May poses filling the tank.

The Train Crew that makes it possible, from Left to Right: Fireman Mike May, Engineer Bill Colley, Conductor Rich Millard, Brakeman Mike Nichols, and Brakeman George Swift.

Runby at the Bitter Root Mine as the Needle Peaks stand as sentinels in the background.

Runby at the Bitter Root Mine as the Needle Peaks stand as sentinels in the background.

Brakeman George Swift hops aboard the train before departure.

Blow down on the Highline. This is a regular process of steam railroading, done to keep sediments and other impurities from fouling the boiler of a steam locomotive.

Engineer Bill Colley smiles for the Cameras.

Brakeman Mike Nichols stands for posterity.

Portrait of a Lady.

Portrait of a Lady.

Conductor Rich Millard looks at the crowd before our departure from this final runby.