There wast enough transmission fluid in the Moose to continue the trip south to Monahans.
The Moose left the grade crossing where we stopped as we proceeded south.
Crossing another cattle guard.
Rounding a curve.
Milepost 10.
Another one of the many oil wells along our route.
Yet another curve.
Another oil tank field.
Milepost 7 is the Ward/Winkler County Line.
The Praire Spur.
A former Chicago and North Western covered hopper car was here.
Leaving the Praire Spur.
Milepost 5.
Milepost 2. The Town of Ozarking was once located here.
Milepost 1. The Yard Limit sign for Monahans is also here.
Approaching Monahans, we went past the many industrial spurs.
The west leg of the wye at Monahans.
The 10 MPH sign heading north.
The former Texas & Pacific mainline came into view, now operated by the Union Pacific.
The Moose has reached Monahans.
Everyone detrained and the Moose would be turned to take Group Two back to MP 100.6. We all thanked Bart and Sarah Jennings for the excellent trip and special thanks goes to our Moose driver and our flag crew, as well as to the West Texas and Lubbock Railroad and the Texas-New Mexico Railroad for all the great trips over their lines. Now we would get into Dave's rental car that Kathie drove here to pick us up, to start the trip back to Albuquerque.
The Drive back to AlbuquerqueWe drove north on Texas Highway 18, as Dave and Kathie followed us, which we took into Kermit, Texas where we stopped at The Sonic for lunch to go. Back on the road again, we continued north on Highway 18, which at the border, turned into New Mexico Highway 18 and we took back through Hobbs and the cars at MP 100.6. There, Randy and I picked up Steve Clearwater, who we would take back to Albuquerque. We drove into Lovington, where at the junction of US Highway 82, we turned left.
Santa Fe caboose 999121, nee Santa Fe 1781, built by American Car and Foundry in 1929, is on display at Lovington. We drove US Highway 82 west to New Mexico Highway 249, which we also took west.
The view on New Mexico Highway 249 when we dropped off the Caprock, after which we crossed the Pecos River before we reaching Hagerman, New Mexico, where we turned north onto New Mexico Highway 2. As we neared Midway, we spotted a Southwestern Railroad train heading north. We switched to the truck route, caught up to the train and passed it then found a grade crossing and set up for some pictures.
Southwestern Railroad SD40-2 3588, ex. Wisconsin Eastern Railroad 3588, exx. Union Pacific 3588, nee Union Pacific 8079 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1979, was on the point of this train at the edge of Roswell, New Mexico.
Southwestern Railroad SD50 5111, ex. Webb Asset Management 5111, ex. National Railroad Equipment 7005, nee Chicago and North Western 7005 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1985.
Southwestern Railroad SD40-2 3910, ex. Wisconsin Eastern 3910, ex. Union Pacific 3910, nee Missouri Pacific 3226 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1976.
Views of the Southwestern Railroad freight train heading towards Clovis, New Mexico. Back in the car, we drove into downtown Roswell where we somehow overtook the train and pulled off for more pictures.
The Southwestern Railroad train going through downtown Rosewell.
Southwestern Railroad SD50 5111.
Southwestern Railroad SD40-2 3910. From here, we drove through downtown and some of the light poles had something special on them.
The light covers have faces of aliens on them. We stopped for petrol for Dave's rental car which gave us an opportunity to stretch, then continued north on US Highway 285, which we took into Vaughan where Randy's car needed petrol to get us back to Albuquerque, so itt was time for another stretching break.
We went west to Encino, where US Highway 285 took us north to Interstate 40 at Clines Corners. From here, it was straight into Albuquerque where we drove to Dave's and Steve's hotel and said goodbye to them as they checked in and we took their luggage to their room. Dave then filled his rental car before returning it then we picked up Dave and Kathie, whom we took to Randy's house where Marie had dinner ready for us. I printed my boarding pass then ate dinner, excused myself and called it a night.
Flying Home 11/23/2010Randy awoke me at 5:20 AM and soon we were on our way to the Albuquerque Sunport Airport. He dropped me off and I thanked him for helping me do this great trip. I basically walked through Security, with only my hat being checked. I found my gate and then could not find my Sudoku book so went to Hudson News, where not only did I get a new Sudoku book, but also Keith Richards Book "Life". I started reading it and soon they called my Southwest Airlines Flight 856 to Phoenix.
It was a quick flight and soon I had to go from Terminal C to Terminal D and Gate 2. Southwest Flight 828 was quick and soon I was waiting in front of John Wayne Airport where my mother picked me up. She had never seen traffic as bad as it was at the airport, but managed to reach me and soon I was home, ending a fantastic trip to West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico.
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