Photos from September 2012

[Jason Rose]

Site of the Big Horn Section House

If I had the money to donate, I'd rebuild the Section House here as well as at Toltec and Cresco. On the outside they'd look authentic, just as the Grande had them but with better paint. The inside, however, would be luxurious and fully appointed and they would serve as rentals to provide money for the railroad. And, of course, the only way to get there would be by train.



The Section House was near the road.

[Paul Davenport]

Jason,
The "C" session's MOW crew made it out to the Big Horn section house site in June for maintenance of the signage but we didn't finish all that needs to be done on the state-line signs -- the bullet impacts really do a job on signs' paint -- so we'll likely be back there again in 2014. It was a bit of a rough drive into there as we used "roads" connecting from the Wye. I can't tell whether you took your photos from the train or were there on the ground, and I'm wondering if there's driving access from the Antonito side.
Paul

[Jason Rose]

Paul, all of those are from the train. I haven't yet driven out there.

Steve Forney can probably tell you how to drive in from the Antonito side. I'm pretty sure he's done it a few times. It'll be slow going, though.

[Tom Casper]

I drove to Antonito from there and was very bumpy! High clearance is a must but not 4-wheel drive if u got power. The trail kind of fades in places but maybe by now it might be more followable. Don't do it if wet as very muddy conditions could be met!

Tom C.

[Paul Davenport]

Jason, Tom,
Thanks. It sounds like the road to to Big Horn Section House from Antonito is like the road to Lava --- very, very bumpy and very slow-going.
Paul

[Steve Forney]

Paul, the road from Antonito to Big Horn section house isn't too bad, some lava rock sections like going to Lava, but mostly just back country rough. Go out past Hangman to the crossing at about 287.5 and go west. There are two or three roads that take off to the left, but keep to the right. I've been eastbound from Big Horn section house to Antonito three or four times, but not westbound. But I don't recall any wrong trails to the right (north). You will be going up the gully that the section house sits in. The road shows clearly on 7.5 minute Topo maps (Antonito, Los Pinos, and Bighorn Peak Quadrangle Colorado sheets). Interesting drive, but going in on FR103 would likely be about the same time.

[Jason Rose]

This drive (and exploring the east end) is moving up on my to-do list.

Maybe in 2014...

[Paul Davenport]

Steve,
I'll look again at those topos. Thank you.