Steamscape - Tanglefoot Curve. A westbound D&RGW freight ascends the last 100 vertical feet to the 10,000 ft. high Cumbres Pass over a curvaceous, mile and a half stretch of track, known as Tanglefoot Curve. If you can picture what the boot of Italy looks like, you'll have a rough idea of the overall shape of this feature of line. Just moments prior to this frame, the train entered the scene via the S-curve directly behind it. It is now beginning a sweeping left-hand curve, which will continue for more than 90 degrees and just over another tenth of a mile. At that point, the track forms a tight, hairpin curve to the right of more than 180 degrees. Two tenths of a mile later, the train would pass by from right to left, on the track seen in the foreground, which takes it the last half mile to Cumbres Station. Tanglefoot Curve is tailor-made for photography. No matter what time of day a train might arrive, there's an angle that will provide a front-lit shot. There's little wonder why this spot is frequented by photo freights, such as this 2011 Lerro Productions event.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
