Entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park on US Highway 34 near Estes Park - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

US 34 (Trail Ridge Road) between Granby and Estes Park has the distinction of being the highest paved road in the USA - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

From Trail Ridge Road it is possible to walk to the summit at 12005 feet or 2.3 miles above sea level - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

Wyoming State Capitol, Cheyenne in September 2008 - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

With the hotel being near the railroad there was just time for an hour or so's train spotting - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

A westbound manifest meets an eastbound grain train in fading light at Cheyenne, Wyoming - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

Crossing the North Platte River at Guernsey, Wyoming - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

On the way to Laramie we meet long eastbound BNSF coal trains with dpus (distributed power units) on the rear - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

Fort Laramie was more of a trading post than a fortification and is not the traditional fort associated with the movies - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

As well as being able to take a pleasant stroll, there are many fine exhibits to see like this replica Gatling gun - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

Barrack room, Fort Laramie - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

Mess room and Office, Fort Laramie - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

The only mammoth site in North America is at Hot Springs, South Dakota - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

A Rapid City securities firm (left) and Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DME) (right) - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

Meter Fine Boxes and former presidents stand sentinel in Rapid City's Main Street - President John Adams (above) was the sixth president of the United States - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

Presidents John F Kennedy and George Bush Snr in Rapid City, South Dakota - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow

Mother and daughter statue and seventh president, Andrew Jackson - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow         

USA

National Parks Tour:  Mount Rushmore to Cody