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Old 06-26-2014, 10:19 AM   #1
Old Henry
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Default Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

For our 41st anniversary this year we did another big road trip that's been on our bucket list for a while - The Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray, Colorado.

We started in Cortez, Colorado, the gateway to Mesa Verde National Park. The drive to Cortez was uneventful except when pulling up the incline south of Moab, Utah the engine started to stumble just like it does with vapor lock. I switched on the electric fuel pump that usually solves that instantly. No change. So, for most of the rest of that day the engine stumbled along like it was missing a cylinder or two but only intermittently, usually when just cruising, but would go away as soon as I pushed down on the gas pedal to accelerate or climb. Then it would do fine. It was like the power valve (that I'd just replaced) wasn't working right. Then, once in a while, it would be like the accelerator pump (which I also just replaced) wasn't giving its squirt when it was supposed to.

Getting out to look under the hood to find anything wrong was in vain so we just went on with that "stumbling" totally destroying what would otherwise be a calm, peaceful, serene, drive.

Then, on one climb it got worse until the engine just slowly stumbled until it died. So, there we were, on the side of the road, wondering what was wrong. I tried starting it several times in vain so we just sat and let it rest. After many minutes I tried it again, it started right up and pulled up that hill without any hesitation and for the rest of the day was just fine. I concluded that Old Henry just had a "carburetor stone" that he had to pass and that he would now be good for the duration. Not so.

Anyway, we stayed in Cortez that night.

The next day it was off to Mesa Verde National Park. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIwSREJs-Tg From the park website: Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.

Headed up the 1,000 foot climb to get up onto the mesa:



One of the many cliff dwellings (more on the video):



After a few hours in Mesa Verde National Park we headed back down then east to Durango where we got on Highway 550, a spur of U.S. 50 that runs from Bernalillo, NM to Montrose, CO and eventually becomes The Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewtVENBJgb4

We climbed over three high passes, the first one Coal Bank Pass at 10,640 feet then Molas Pass at 10,910 feet.





Molas Lake at Molas Pass



Then we headed down the mountain to the quaint little old mining town of Silverton, population 628, elevation 9,308 feet. Locals call it "Little Switzerland" because of it's Alpine setting.



One of my favorite stories as a child was Donald Duck's Toy Train. Looking down on Silverton, that really has a narrow gauge railway coming to it from Durango, reminded me so much of Donald Duck's model railway town that the chipmunks, Chip & Dale, eventually moved into.

The sign says "A Victorian Mining Town".



One of the steam engines that pull the narrow gauge train from Durango (the train seen in Around the World in 80 Days and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).



A close-up of the train drive wheels set inside of its frame, instead of outside as standard gauge locomotives are, to fit the narrow rails. And the push rod connections as close to the outside diameter of the wheels as possible to increase climbing ability.



The train station, much like Donald Duck's:



The original 1883 "Welcome Saloon" with a Model A parked in front.



Then back up over Red Mountain Pass at 11,019 feet and The Million Dollar Highway, named either for the cost of building it in the 1920's or the value of the gold in its fill dirt. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM0wMwLjlk4



Then we got into the old mining region that included the Longfellow mine and other mines from which over 6,800,000 ounces of gold (nearly 9 billion dollars in todays values) was extracted from in the late 1800's to 1959 when it was all gone.



The Idarado mine trestle where the miners boarded the mine train to take them into the 80 miles of tunnels and drifts of the mine.



Ruins and waste of the Yankee Girl mine, the richest mine of the region.



This section of highway was carved out of the mountain side by Otto Mears in 1881 as a toll road. (More dramatic views on the video.)



We then dropped down into our final destination for the night, Ouray, founded by prospectors in 1875 servicing 30 active mines with a population of 1,000 then and now. Elevation 7,792 feet. Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjDSBmomL4 It's a much harder town to see than Silverton because it is a "Tree City, U.S.A." with lots of trees.



The entire main street is a National Historic District and it has a lot of quaint Victorian style houses as well. This one is for sale.



Our final destination, the old Western Hotel built in 1891 to service the miners and wealthy where we stayed the night for our 41st wedding anniversary:



The drive home was uneventful other than the return of the "carburetor stone" disturbing my peace and the generator giving out 200 miles from home.
Also, at one point the engine was stumbling all the time no matter what I did. I couldn't stand it so stopped to take a look under the hood. Found three spark plug wires loose, not disconnected, just not snapped on tight. Squeezed all of the connections with pliers and put them back on and there was no stumbling again, for a while.

We drove through temperatures as low as 60° F on the high mountain passes to a high of 94° F on the way home.



Still made it home fine and still had enough battery to start and drive around the next couple of days before turning the headlights on one night that killed it and had to charge it again. Haven't figured out that problem nor the "stumbling" engine yet.

Total miles 845. Good time had by all.

P.S. Where was Pepe? Home in his nice stable bed. AnnaRae wanted to go without him this time.

Previous Trips:

Transcontinental Railway Grade in May 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139471

City of Rocks, Idaho in April 2014:https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137684

Capitol Reef National Park in March 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133018

Grouse Creek and the AAA garage in February 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130966

Grand Canyon in January 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128820

Moab, UT in December 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127222

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument November 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694

Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098

Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013

Canada in June 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872

Monument Valley in March 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523

Bryce Canyon in February 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822

Milford, Utah in December 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137

Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080

Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966

Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864

Death Valley in February 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705

Pike's Peak in July 2011: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141

Route 66 in April 2010: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511
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Last edited by Old Henry; 06-26-2014 at 01:35 PM.
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Old 06-26-2014, 10:58 AM   #2
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Thanks again for inspiring images! I have to know if someone is following you and taking those far off shots with the Old Henry in the foreground or is it you hiking back to get those great shots?

Phil
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Old 06-26-2014, 11:12 AM   #3
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Great Photos!!! I have driven those too. We have been thinking of moving to Colorado when I retire.
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Old 06-26-2014, 11:58 AM   #4
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Great pics and story! That's on my list of places to take a drive (I've only been up there for skiing, NOT a fun drive in winter!)
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Old 06-26-2014, 12:00 PM   #5
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Thanks for the story and beautiful pictures.

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Old 06-26-2014, 12:09 PM   #6
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Your stories and pictures are absolutely priceless! Thank You!
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Old 06-26-2014, 12:19 PM   #7
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 36 ford View Post
Thanks again for inspiring images! I have to know if someone is following you and taking those far off shots with the Old Henry in the foreground or is it you hiking back to get those great shots?

Phil
I have to hike to get those.
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Old 06-26-2014, 12:31 PM   #8
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Professor,
Great shots, video, and story. Thanks
Let us know when you figure out the carb stones. Maybe some cranberry juice in the tank. Works on kidney stones so worth a try. LOL
John
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Old 06-26-2014, 01:26 PM   #9
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God bless you, I was on that road 11 years ago for my 70th birthday. Also had a ride on the D&S Narrow gauge RR. Fantastic ride. Traded one of my books for a tour of their machine shop.
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Old 06-26-2014, 01:28 PM   #10
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Beautiful country and you do a good job taking pictures.
Do you suppose oldford2 is referring to MMO?
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Old 06-26-2014, 01:34 PM   #11
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Great photos and thank you for sharing.
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Old 06-26-2014, 03:54 PM   #12
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God bless you, I was on that road 11 years ago for my 70th birthday. Also had a ride on the D&S Narrow gauge RR. Fantastic ride. Traded one of my books for a tour of their machine shop.
Ron, I just flew that train ride with Google Earth. Looks like a great ride. Maybe we'll do that some day. Only problem is - they probably won't let me drive the train. Same problem that ruined our Alaska cruise.
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Old 06-26-2014, 04:21 PM   #13
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Your car looks right at home in front of the Victorian house. Looks like it was a fun trip, thanks for posting.
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Old 06-26-2014, 06:25 PM   #14
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Quote:
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Ron, I just flew that train ride with Google Earth. Looks like a great ride. Maybe we'll do that some day. Only problem is - they probably won't let me drive the train. Same problem that ruined our Alaska cruise.
Love the stories, hope to make some of my own when my truck is finished.


If you want to drive the train just drive "Old Henry" on up to Baker City, Oregon and then 23 miles West on Highway 7 to McEwen and you too can drive a real steam locomotive at the "Sumpter Valley Railroad". We have several options available from an hour or so with just a locomotive after our regular weekend runs to an all day, on a Friday, at the throttle with a work train behind you. I can tell you there is nothing quite like pulling throttle on a real live steamer.

Check us out here: http://www.sumptervalleyrailroad.org/
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Old 06-26-2014, 06:30 PM   #15
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Thanks for sharing. Great photos.
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Old 06-26-2014, 07:05 PM   #16
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Love the stories, hope to make some of my own when my truck is finished.


If you want to drive the train just drive "Old Henry" on up to Baker City, Oregon and then 23 miles West on Highway 7 to McEwen and you too can drive a real steam locomotive at the "Sumpter Valley Railroad". We have several options available from an hour or so with just a locomotive after our regular weekend runs to an all day, on a Friday, at the throttle with a work train behind you. I can tell you there is nothing quite like pulling throttle on a real live steamer.

Check us out here: http://www.sumptervalleyrailroad.org/
Has it got a steering wheel? I'm afraid that even my trains have got to have a steering wheel. Here's the one I've been driving for 10 years now:



I don't think that even the cruise ship we were on had a steering wheel, probably just a computer joy stick or something as boring to steer the ship with.

I think I would still like to pull the levers on a steam engine.

Thanks for offering.
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Old 06-26-2014, 07:10 PM   #17
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Awesome trip and photos. Some of the same scenes we saw a few years ago when we in Silverton & Ouray. IA good time to go is a little later in the summer when all the snow melts. You can then access some of old mines over the haul roads via Jeeps you can rent in Silverton. Great place to spend your anniversary.
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Old 06-26-2014, 10:08 PM   #18
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Beautiful pictures! Silverton is one of my favorite places. Thanks for taking me there again.
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Old 06-26-2014, 11:13 PM   #19
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Enjoyed the pics. I live in Colorado and haven't been to those places yet.
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Old 06-27-2014, 12:26 AM   #20
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Sounds like quite an adventure! Thanks for another great set of pictures. Happy anniversary too!
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Old 06-27-2014, 05:36 AM   #21
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Happy Anniversary! Awesome story and pictures,Thank you!
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Old 06-27-2014, 06:43 AM   #22
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Thanks for another great travelogue. Visited Silverton (and Mesa Verde) on a cross country motorcycle trip in 1972; beautiful area.

Adam
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Old 06-27-2014, 08:43 AM   #23
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Welcome to our back yard, thanks for sharing once again Old Henry.
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Old 06-27-2014, 11:41 AM   #24
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Default Re: Driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)

Prof. Henry, here's a picture of "yours truly" pulling throttle on a 1915 Heisler logging locomotive. I think it's more fun that driving my Ford, well maybe not more fun but at least as fun.
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Old 06-27-2014, 11:54 AM   #25
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Prof. Henry, here's a picture of "yours truly" pulling throttle on a 1915 Heisler logging locomotive. I think it's more fun that driving my Ford, well maybe not more fun but at least as fun.
Cool.
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Old 06-27-2014, 12:53 PM   #26
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Dear Prof. Henry....When you are ready for a ride on "The Silverton" out of Durango...Contact me..We are going to look at property in Montrose CO. this coming week..After we get settled in, We'll meet up take the Old Cars down to Durango and Ride the Train.....Thanks for posting your Trip for all of us to enjoy..Carl....
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Old 06-27-2014, 01:14 PM   #27
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Dear Prof. Henry....When you are ready for a ride on "The Silverton" out of Durango...Contact me..We are going to look at property in Montrose CO. this coming week..After we get settled in, We'll meet up take the Old Cars down to Durango and Ride the Train.....Thanks for posting your Trip for all of us to enjoy..Carl....
Thanks. Will do.
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Old 06-27-2014, 04:55 PM   #28
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What beautiful country! Your trips are always enjoyable right here in front of my computer. Happy anniversary! and I hope you get the car straightened out.
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Old 06-27-2014, 05:12 PM   #29
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Great anniversary trip for you newly weds. We just celebrated our 52nd anniversary.
I thoroughly enjoy each and everyone of your posts with videos and pictures. Thanks for posting. Lawson
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Old 06-27-2014, 10:28 PM   #30
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Dang ... I just missed you professor . Me and my 10 year old daughter just drove out there to see my Mom and family 2 weeks ago. (Not in my Merc tho) At Christmas time they turn The narrow gauge train into Thomas the train. The kids love that! And during the summer the train races bicyclists from Durango to Silverton. Did you happen to take Anna Rae white water rafting down the Animas river? Haha It was a raging cold river when we were there. From all much needed snow last winter. Durango is the only town that I know that has a river running through it. God's county to me for sure! Thanks for the great pictures and making me miss the west even more!
Hope you get your engine troubles worked out
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Old 06-28-2014, 12:10 AM   #31
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Just as I thought. One generator brush worn out.



I was a little surprised though since I just rebuilt this generator with a new armature and brushes back in September, a mere 13,000 miles ago. I would have thought generator brushes would last longer than that. I'm going to put some spares in my trunk with all of the other spare parts possibly needed on a road trip just in case I need them. It's amazing how far I have gone without a generator during the day with nothing drawing on the battery except the coil, the last 250 miles of our Route 66 trip and the last 200 miles of this one with still plenty of juice to start the engine. I may well add this to my 10,000 mile maintenance procedure - replace the generator brushes.
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Old 06-28-2014, 07:53 AM   #32
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Henry: Thanks again for sharing . Les
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Old 06-29-2014, 11:17 PM   #33
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I have had to conclude that the "carburetor stones" that Old Henry was suffering with on the trip were a result of the failing and ultimately failed generator since as soon as I replaced the brushes in that so that it worked right the engine smoothed right out again and works great. It wasn't a fuel problem, as I had supposed. It was a spark problem caused by the low voltage of the dying generator. It's constantly amazing to discover things that seem totally unrelated being attached somewhere in the cosmos to affect each other.
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Old 06-30-2014, 12:29 AM   #34
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Henry,
Thanks for sharing the photos... I have driven my '30 "A" Tudor out there several times and have Ouray is my favorite. I always stay at the Box Canyon motel, mineral hot springs... CW MCall use to narrate the San Jaun Oddessy 360 degree presentation. If it is still going it is a must see. Ouray area in my opinion is the best in Colorado. Hopefully I'll get my '48 coupe or '40 convert out there someday.
Thanks again for posting.
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Old 06-30-2014, 06:56 AM   #35
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As the old saying goes: "90% of carburetor problems are electrical"

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1936 pickup, stock, black
1965 Mustang coupe 289/4bbl, black/red
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 coupe, dark red/tan
1970 911E 2.2 litre dark blue/black
1968 BMW R50/2 US, black (m'cycle)
1967 Triumph TR6R , sea foam/cream (m'cycle)
2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 red (m'cycle)
1974 Honda CB750 red (m'cycle)
2000 Kawasaki W650 blue/silver (m'cycle)
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