Westbound Freight
Peter Hurd
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Putting a trestle bridge over an arroyo on the
spur line from Socorro to Magdalena, so we are told.
Photos above courtesy of Socorro County Historical Society.
Below - the Magdalena railway depot is now the village library.
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We've got TWO phones!!
And they BOTH work!!
It's all miraculous!!
(575)
854-2554
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(The Chamber of Commerce folks)
(Brief overview of the town with some demographics)
(Info about the ghost town of Kelly)
(Map and a few details about the end of a railway branch line)
(Info about the Magdalena Ridge Observatory)
(Website for the largest radio astronomy facility in the world!)
(Author, Character, Customer)
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Above and below are both pics of a "drovers caboose" -
first a Santa Fe Railway model, and below the interior
of a Chicago & Northwestern Railroad unit in 1939.
As you can see, there's ample room for seating and sleeping 4.
These special cabooses were made not just for train crew,
but also cowboys, when cattle were shipped by rail.
The cowboys would check on the cattle when
the train made water stops for the steam locomotives,
and then would be responsible for the unloading, when they
had reached Kansas City, or wherever the destination was.
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"The Maggie" (as the locals affectionately called the train)
carried ore, freight, stock, and people between
Magdalena and Socorro. There passengers could board
"The El Pasoan," which ran through the Rio Grande Valley
between El Paso and Albuquerque.
And at that point, you could head off -
to visit relatives, to do business, to go to war,
(and many did over the years),
or school, or vacation,
or maybe just to ride the train.
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Above -The Super Chief (Chicago to Los Angeles) ran through
New Mexico from Raton to Albuquerque, and on through Gallup.
For many New Mexicans, either this train or others of the Santa Fe
(The California Limited,The Chief, The Grand Canyon,
The Scout, The El Capitan, The San Francisco Chief)
would be their ticket to the world beyond
The Land of Enchantment.
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Above - The Super Chief always had a thirty minute stop in
Albuquerque, to take on fuel, and give the passengers time
to stretch their legs, and check out The Indian Building at
The Alvarado Hotel, an original Harvey House,
demolished in the early 70's.
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If you haven't taken a train trip recently, or ever (!),
then maybe it's time to plan your next vacation!
Here's a link to the AMTRAK site where you can
check prices, discounts, and schedules.
ALL ABOARD!
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