George L. Beam and the Denver & Rio Grande : Volume II

George L. Beam and the Denver & Rio Grande : Volume II by Jackson C Thode. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780913582169.

Volume 2 in this series focuses on the narrow gauge railway that threaded its way through the San Luis Valley and the San Juans, the breathtaking high country where the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad and the Cumbres Toltec Scenic Railway still offer summer passenger service. This massive collection of black and white photos was taken by George L. Beam, official photographer for the Rio Grande. The text and extremely informative captions were written by Jackson Thode, himself a lifelong expert on thee railroad and its predecessors. Beams photos not only bring the Rio Grande Southern back to life but also the towns and scenic wonders along the route as well as the mundane reality of life in dusty mining towns where mules and horses were still as common as cars. 280 pages with index and extensive bibliography.