ALPINE TUNNEL – PART 3 – STRUCTURES NEAR WEST END OF ALPINE TUNNEL, CUMBERLAND PASS AND TINCUP.

 

 View down the imaginary mainline tracks an engineer of a westbound train might have seen after coming out of the tunnel, with the turntable tracks at the right. The turntable was located here after the engine house burned about 1902. The only purpose of the “armstrong” turntable was to rotate a locomotive 180 degrees. There was not enough room in the valley for the more conventional wye.

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  The platform and railing was not part of the turntable. Perhaps it was built to illustrate  size of the turntable pit.

The hypothetical engineer of the westbound rain would have this view of the mainline with the switch for diverting to the right track in the foreground and the track to the engine house at the left in the background. (The lady would not have been there.)

 

Jo at the now rare harp switch stand used by the Denver South Park and Pacific RR. The railroad used mainly Mason Bogie locomotives. It is a shame that none have survived  the scrapper.

 

After leaving the Alpine Tunnel we returned to the good county road at the bottom and continued north toward Cumberland Pass.

Those are  fourteeners in the background.

 

The pass was an open area, with a side road going up higher to a viewpoint.

 

Our road came up the canyon seen here. The climb up to the pass was quite gradual. I did not shift out of 2 wheel high all day.

 

Town Hall of the tiny remote town of Tincup. We continued on to Taylor Reservoir and followed Taylor Creek down to Almont and Gunnison to complete our circle trip.