Photo by Laurelin Kruse The SP 1744 makes its first ascent up the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Until Wednesday’s excursion, a steam engine had not climbed La Veta Pass since 1953.

San Luis

Express rolls through scenery with flair



By LAURELIN KRUSE

ALAMOSA — A sonorous whistle of a steam engine resonates through Alamosa, a sound that until now has been absent since 1953 when the last steam engine climbed La Veta Pass.

“When you hear the train whistle that romantic feeling wells up in you,” said Debra Goodman, director of the Alamosa chamber of commerce.

The whistle reminds of a time before SUVs, cell phones, and ipods, when the train sounded its arrival daily and could always be tracked by the dark cloud that ascended to the blue skies above it with mysterious grace.

This nostalgic sound belongs to the SP 1744, an addition to the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad that accentuates the historic railroad. With its whistle, the SP 1744 sounds the return of a piece of history. The locomotive chugged its way up the mountain Wednesday, marking the first time the landscape of La Veta has seen a steam engine in over 50 years.

Built while President McKinley still held office in 1901, the SP 1744 has the ability to take passengers back in time. “[Passengers are] here because they want to think about the fact that Alamosa wasn’t here until the railroad was built. You put these things together and you’ve got a slice of history,” said Ed Ellis, president of the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad. Elements of nostalgia and history combine to deliver a unique tourism experience.

The SP 1744 heightens the already captivating experience of the train ride across La Veta Pass with its nostalgic, romantic, and historic appeal. This locomotive provides the quintessential railroad experience, reminiscent of rail journeys seen in old films and captured in antique postcards.

The San Luis Express offers passengers an escape from the bustle of modern life into the past and a venture into Colorado’s spectacular scenery. With railroad track that traces into the depths of the Sangre de Cristos, travelers have the opportunity to see verdant landscapes and abundant wildlife not visible from the rush of the highway.

Train buffs, couples -whether just falling in love or celebrating a 50th anniversary- and families alike find something about the steam engine and train ride that charms them. Train buffs foam at the mouth when met with the classic steam engine. Older couples will relive the train rides of their youth as they fall in love all over again to the sound of the steam whistle while young love blossoms among the wildflowers that can be seen from the window of the train blooming along the route. Children grow excited as they encounter the life-sized version of their toy locomotives while their parents relax on a leisurely ride through the mountains.

The adventure and nostalgia of the San Luis Express experience begins immediately as passengers set foot inside the train. Modern life dissolves among the old-fashioned interior of the passenger cars.

During the first stretch of the ride from Alamosa to La Veta the vast, flat landscape of the San Luis Valley arrestingly extends in all directions until it meets the bottom of the mountains. As the train begins rising into the mountains, the air cools and the scenery greens. The train winds through both aspen and pine trees, at times paralleling the creek. Puffs of steam twist past the window timelessly, stretching back as the tracks disappear behind a curve or into the horizon.

Through the frames of a passenger car window, a sense of romance and nostalgia complements the spectacular views.

The engine tenaciously chugs through the mountains until reaching its destination: La Veta. Here passengers can enjoy two hours of shopping and dining in the quaint mountain town. The town offers a relaxing and quiet atmosphere and opportunities for passengers to recharge before making the return trip to Alamosa.

Tomorrow the steam engine will make its inaugural run in coordination with the weekend’s heritage festivities.

The Alamosa Chamber of Commerce will host a season opening celebration for the steam engine Saturday morning at 7:45 at the depot. Special remarks will be made by county commissioners, the mayor, and president of the railroad.

The steam engine runs weekends and holidays through mid-October. A round trip costs $48 for adults, $38 for seniors, and $33 for children. The train departs at 9:00 a.m. and returns at 4:45 p.m. For information call (877) 7CO-RAIL or visit the official Rio Grande Scenic Railroad website at www.alamosatrain.com.