Smoking in the Rockies

A couple of years ago the whole Dudley family, all went to Pagosa Springs, Colorado for Christmas.  Richard, June's husband, her son, Mark, & she drove to Durango while everyone else was skiing, & they boarded The Polar Express for the ride between Durango and Silverton.  The old steam engine was truly awesome and the scenery was spectacular.  For most of the trip June was in the open car where she could take pictures & experience the ride out in the open even though it was freezing cold.  She would go back inside the railroad car only to warm up and to drink their delicious hot chocolate.  She got some incredible reference photos combining several as inspiration for this painting.  Painting it brought back all of those memories.  She can only imagine what it must have been like for those who rode the train when it first began its operation.  What a thrill that must have been riding through such majestic landscapes with all the icy streams and snow banks.