A View from Wagon Mound
Looking at an image that was taken nearly four and a half years ago now—a view from Wagon Mound. Since the semaphores are still hanging on, I'm pondering what I might be able to do on the Raton Subdivision if I venture out for one last trip later this fall.
I've never shown this frame, favoring one when the train is much closer, on the curve approaching the Wagon Mound siding. In this view, it is seen up the track a couple of miles near the intermediate signal between Wagon Mound and Levy. (The latter may be seen in this view toward the top right-hand side of the frame.) I'll paste the text from my previous post, showing the similar view, here...
Walking up this relatively small mesa was more difficult than I had imagined it would be—due to rocky footing and my not being accustomed to the altitude of more than 6200 feet. In any case, I made it about two thirds to the top before I figured I should stop and set up for the westbound train.
Wagon Mound, the geological formation, is named for the shape of the covered wagons used by pioneers traversing the Santa Fe Trail, while the accompanying town was then named for the formation. The rail line one sees here, formerly the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, was named (in part) for the destination of that pioneer trail, and was built through these parts in the first half of 1879, a hundred and forty years ago.
Image by Richard Koenig; taken May 15th 2019.