A combination trip, to Boston for business, and New Mexico for trains in mixed but sometimes severe winter weather. The big strom that crippled half of the country struck on my last day in NM; a rescheduled itinerary luckily got me home on the same day as originally planned. Highlights include a company event at the House of Blues and walking the Freedom Trail in Boston; a visit to Dick Rotto's magnificent Raton Pass-layout and meeting with Michael Gross in Santa Fe; our helicopter flight over Abo Canyon; chasing trains on the Gallup Sub with Brian Kreimendahl; and a snowy and bumpy departure from New Mexico.

On Jan.29, 2011 my friends Bud Klumph and Paul W.Brown joined me in making a long-time dream of ours materialize. We wanted to research the Belen and Abo Canyon area and its recent changes from up above for better modeling and special photography. Research uncovered AeroWest's Don Ambabo to be the pilot perfect for the task. Setting out from the Double Eagle Airport west of Albuquerque, we hit the BNSF transcontinental mainline just west of Dalies, then followed the tracks east down into Belen circling the yard before heading up towards Becker, Abo Canyon, Mountainair and Willard. A 20-minute break on top of Abo's north rim gave us a photo perspective seldom seen. Back down towards Belen and over Albuquerque we went, before getting back to the heliport. Don was a very knowledgeable narrator, making various moves upon request, and knew from the beginning what we were after. Well, he's done this many times before, and for all sorts of interests. The biting cold of this January morning must be mentioned; however, we were prepared for that. Flying with the doors removed will add that special spice to that kind of trip. A great experience, we certainly consider doing it again! Thanks Don, good job!