A number of interesting things going on in this shot of #488 bringing a charter down from Cumbres Pass at about mile post 337. It's 2005, and the Cumbres & Toltec has just started a much needed re-ballasting project. Look under the open gon and you can see the transition from the old to the new. Note the old roadbed was basically down to ties on dirt and cinders.
The first car behind the gon also represents the start of another change as the regular passenger cars are being repainted, red with silver roofs. This new paint scheme is a lighter, brighter red than the parlor car you see behind the engine with its black roof. The paint styles have since changed again, with the current style more closely matching the original parlor car scheme - a darker, rich red with black roof and gold lettering, which to my eye looks terrific.
In this shot you can also see the old alignment of Hwy 17, just behind the RR grade.
