Rio Grande's La Veta Pass Route, The

Gateway to the San Luis Valley, Expanded and Updated

By Stephen Rasmussen.

Cloth with dust jacket, 342 glossy pages, 8.5x11.5, 480+ color and b/w images, maps, drawings, timetables, rosters, appendices, index.

"In June of 1877 Gen. William Jackson Palmer's new D&RG Railway reached the summit of 9.400-foot La Veta Pass, deep within the Sangre de Christo Mountain Range. Immediately this narrow gauge line to the San Luis Valley became known throughout the world as both an "engineering marvel" and a "scenic wonder".

"Agricultural and mineral products were hauled east while tourists were hauled west, with both La Veta Pass and Wagon Wheel Gap becoming their destinations. By the mid-1890s, the narrow gauge railroad could not keep up with the tremendous volume of agricultural products originating in the Valley. Hence a new standard gauge railroad to Alamosa was deemed a priority; and by November 1899, a new standard gauge railroad was opened over La Veta Pass.

"From the beginning, operations over La Veta Pass were largely unknown to the public due to the remoteness of the line. Passenger service operated at night and few photographers saw freights along this route. Rumors about the end of narrow gauge operations sent photographers flocking to such places ad Cumbres Pass and Durango. However, standard gauge operations over La Veta Pass and beyond to Creede had been essentially ignored until now.

"With over 480 images, carefully drawn maps by the author, documents, timetables, and thoroughly researched text, this book chronicles the extensive history of the Denver and Rio Grande Western's route from Pueblo to Creede, and south to Antonito. In this 2nd edition, the book has been updated to reflect the current exciting events along the route with the return of the =San Luis passenger train and the Iron Horse."