All pictures are by Elizabeth Guenzler as I did not have my camera with me today.
I ate at the Fairfield Inn while Elizabeth walked over to the Doubletree and had their breakfast, then I drove over to the hotel for a day of networking and seminars with multiple concurrent sessions.
Conference banner and sponsors.
Elizabeth and I both attended the Durango Street Railway seminar. Since she was representing the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway, Elizabeth chose appropriate seminars and as such, went to Anatomy of a Strategic Plan and I chose Fleet and Equipment Maintenance Management. That took up the morning and everyone partook in a delicious lunch provided by the hotel. In the afternoon, Elizabeth went to Retail Madness and I joined the Replacing a Historic Bridge with CRISI Funding - Lessons Learned (the replacement of the bridge over the Animas River near Silverton). The final afternoon sessions were the Canadian Council meeting for Elizabeth and Next Generation Strategies for me. Each seminar was most educational and we enjoyed them.
We returned to our hotel before going back to the DoubleTree to ride the motor coach to the evening venue - Bar D Chuckwagon. The American cowboy symbolizes the spirit of our nation and its heritage from a fondly remembered romantic era much like the Caesars to Rome, the Spartans to Greece, the Vikings to Norway and the Knights of the Round Table to Britain.
This Old West Cowboy era was romanticized in western films as portrayed by John Ford productions with John Wayne, of singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rodgers, Clint Eastwood movies of the 60's and 70's, and television series like Rawhide, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke.
Away from the ranch, the historic American cowboy drove half wild long horn steers across the west and faced down whatever dangers came their way be it storm, flood, rustlers, indians, or stampede. They worked hard and spent long hours in the saddle for weeks or months at a time.
As the sun was sinking in the west, the Cowboys would ride in and tie up near the Chuckwagon to settle down for the night. The Cookie served the wranglers their evening grub and they would gather round the camp fire, exchange stories, tell jokes, and listen to their companions play and sing trail songs.
Nothing symbolizes the spirit, life, and times of the Cowboy as well as their music and songs. The tunes range from those around the campfire to back street Saloon hoedowns and the midnight laments that the nighthawk shift cowboys sang to calm the herd.
Fast forward 150 years to today's working ranches, dude ranches, and Chuckwagon attractions. The Bar D Chuckwagon is located on the Dalton Cattle Ranch North of Durango Colorado where the Wranglers entertain the whole family with fun, comedy, and songs in the Cowboy tradition. A chuckwagon supper is included with the show that Cookie could only dream about. You are invited to saddle up and ride to the Bar D Chuckwagon. It has been Durango's favorite family entertainment for nearly 50 years.
After a thirty minute journey, we arrived and were guided through the barn.
The blacksmith fashioning a tail of a cat.
The map of Bar D Chuckwagon.
Gold panning.
To enter the dining area and shops, one walks through an entryway with metal silhouettes of the Bar D Wranglers entertainers.
Bar D Ranch covered wagon.
The Dalton station. Unbeknownst to us, the attractions included a train, where the volunteer took a head count of every passenger.
The home-built park train.
Elizabeth and I boarded the train along with a few others.
One of the riding cars with the locomotive ahead.
Elizabeth in a dual role -- representing the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society as the Director of Communications, as well as enjoying herself as a railfan riding a new train.
The author about to enjoy his first ride.
We departed the station.
Crossing the access road.
Boot Hill, where we went downgrade.
Rounding a large curve.
Other attendees enjoying the ride.
A forward view.
The author enjoying his new mileage on this 14 inch gauge line.
The road to enter the Bar D Ranch.
It was a beautiful late summer evening.
Nearing the Nellie Belle mine.
Nellie Belle mine.
Phil Dunst, the engineer, guiding the train around the property.
Rounding another curve.
Travelling through the forest.
Verdant scenery.
Curving through the forest of ponderosa pines.
Ponderosa pines against the brilliant blue sky with wispy clouds.
The journey around another large bend.
The view behind.
Continuing our ride.
Baldy Mountain.
The pine trees dwarfed our train.
We were nearing the end of the ride.
Passing through the gold panning area.
Didn't we just travel through Needleton on the Durango and Silverton the previous day?!
Approaching the station.
The volunteer with others wanting to ride.
D "Short Line Railroad".
The train in front of the Dalton Station.
The train leaving the station. We started to explore the grounds.
There are several attractions for children, including this dummy steam engine.
Baldy Mountain.
Conference delegates enjoying themselves.
The next train departed Dalton station and we rode the following one.
Phil Dunst, our engineer
He handled the train with care and concern.
Nellie Belle Mine.
Rounding another curve
The Canadian contingent of the 2025 Heritage Rail Alliance conference: Stephen Yakimets (Edmonton Railway Museum in Edmonton, Alberta), Peter Murphy (Exporail - The Canadian Railway Museum in Delson, Quebec), Adam Meeks (CPKC Heritage in Calgary, Alberta), Elizabeth Guenzler (Fraser Valley Heritage Railway in Cloverdale, British Columbia) and Peter Boyle (CPKC Heritage in Calgary, Alberta). Photograph by Sandra Murphy.
After everyone had explored the grounds and ridden the train, we were summoned to the dining area and seating was open. We were welcomed by Jeff Johnson, the Vice-President and General Manager of the Durango and Silverton Railroad, who works for American Heritage Railways (owners of the Durango and Silverton); the company was sponsoring this evening.
All had pre-selected their entree and were called up by table. The meal was delicious and satisfying and when each had finished, they took their dishes to the rear where employees split the dishes from the rubbish and sent the dishes down a gulley to be washed. It was an ingenious set-up.
The evening show then commenced which was extremely entertaining and fun. Jeff is an honourary member of the Bar D Wranglers and joined for a few songs at the beginning. Left to right: Matt Palmer, Gary Cook, Jeff Johnson, Richard Espinoza and Joel Racheff.
A very fitting backdrop given the location; there was also a song about Silverton. The show lasted about an hour and much applause was given, after which everyone made their way back to the buses and were returned to the conference hotel. The two of us drove back to the Fairfield Inn for the night.
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