Stratica Mine Tour

Centuries ago Kansas was an inland sea. As time progressed and things heated up the water disappeared leaving behind huge areas of salt. These layers of salt are now mined in Hutchinson Kansas and they offer tours. 

In the lobby of the tour building you can learn a bit about salt and mining 

This map shows the various areas mined over the decades

Here we are getting ready to go on tour

We are set up with all needed safety equipment

After a short and dark elevator ride you are underground

Actual passenger cars used to transport miners are on display. Almost nothing that enters the mine is ever brought back to the serface

Most of the vehicles that are used underground end up looking like something from a "Mad Maxx" movie

Videos are located throughout the display

We took the railroad tour thru the mine

Lots of trashover the years remains

Because of the dry conditions the mine is a fine place to store records and movie films

They have a pile of salt you can explore and take home a sample as a souvenir. these have to be displayed carefully as they can easily damage whatever they are placed upon. 

Everything is a part of the mine excavation including the bathrooms. Quite the place to see!

South Fork CO

South Fork, Colorado was the home to a standard gauge railroad line that made its way to Creede, Colorado. This was intended to be a tourist line, but fortunes didn't go their way and it is shut down awaiting a new buyer. It is unclear if this line will survive.

Here are some images of the equipment and facilities to be found there.

The inside of the depot has lots of character

Classic business car

Rail bus

Motor car

I've read where the door castings for narrow gauge box cars are in short supply for some narrow gauge railroads. I photographed those castings from this car for reference.

A variety of motive power is stored here

Gang car

Pickup ready for the rails

D&RG lettering on former SP engine