#levynm

[railwayhistorical]

A Return to Levy

For my last day in New Mexico, I chose to chase the Southwest Chief in the opposite direction from the previous day, and began at Levy. I've shot here several times over the years, with this being an example (which was the last time I was at this location).

I've always been attracted to that little building near the west end of the siding—along with the semaphores of course—and wanted to give it some love this time. To do so, I thought I'd use a wider lens than usual.

In the end, I wish I'd waited a split second longer to hit the shutter release but am pretty happy with with the shot. The going away shot at this locale is de rigueur with Wagon Mound looming five miles away.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken April 8th 2026.

[railwayhistorical]

Landmark

This is an eastbound Amtrak Southwest Chief splitting the signals at Levy, New Mexico. These semaphores have been coming down incrementally over the last couple of years which has caused the signals to be some of the most photographed railroad subjects in recent memory. This view, pointing my camera compass southward, provides a great view of Wagon Mound—an important landmark for those traveling the Santa Fe Trail prior to the coming of the railroad. One image by Richard Koenig; taken April 28th 2023.

[railwayhistorical]

Levy

Just one of my favorite spots on earth—Levy, New Mexico. One image by Richard Koenig; taken April 28th 2023.

[railwayhistorical]

Semaphores’ Last Stand (2 of 3)

To follow up on an earlier post, this is the eastbound Amtrak Southwest Chief splitting the signals at Levy, New Mexico. I’ll repeat some information here on the subject at hand...

These three signals are some of the last semaphores (eleven, that I know of) still operating in the United States. They are on the original line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in northeast New Mexico.

The reason these ancient signals are still here is due to the Belen Cutoff of the early 19th century. It became the preferred route for nearly all of the traffic on the Santa Fe and successor BNSF. The only train operating on the line currently (beside work trains for maintenance) is this one (each way per day), and so the railroad has been slow to put money into replacements.

However—the semaphores have been coming down incrementally over the last couple of years. This has caused the signals to be some of the most photographed railroad subjects in recent memory (with UP 4014 being the most in my estimation).

This view, pointing my camera compass southward, is fabulous in that we get a great view of Wagon Mound. Also stated before, this was an important landmark for those traveling the Santa Fe Trail in the time period prior to the coming of the railroad.

Five images by Richard Koenig: taken April 28th 2023.

[railwayhistorical]

Semaphores’ Last Stand (1 of 3)

This is a westbound Amtrak Southwest Chief ripping through Levy, New Mexico, at the 79 MPH limit. These three signals are some of the last semaphores (eleven, that I know of) still operating in the United States.

We’re on the original line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in northeast New Mexico. The reason these ancient signals are still here is due to the Belen Cutoff of the early 19th century. It became the preferred route for nearly all of the traffic on the Santa Fe and successor BNSF. The only train operating on the line currently (beside work trains for maintenance) is this one (each way per day), and so the railroad has been slow to put money into replacements.

However—the semaphores have been coming down incrementally over the last couple of years. This has caused the signals to be some of the most photographed railroad subjects in recent memory (with UP 4014 being the most in my estimation).

As chance would have it, the locomotive here is a special one: painted up for Operation Lifesaver. It encourages people to be very careful and alert around road crossings where a speeding train can do immense damage to one’s automobile, life, and limb. “See tracks, think train.” The wonderful geological feature in the going away shot is Wagon Mound which was a prominent landmark for pioneers traveling on the Santa Fe Train prior to the coming of the railroad.

Five images by Richard Koenig: taken April 28th 2023.