Dear Action Line: Who is in charge of the train crossing near the high school pedestrian bridge? After several popped bicycle tires and having to drag the stroller in reverse so that the front tire doesn’t get stuck in the tracks, when are they going to fix it? – North Side Mom

Dear North Sider: Action Line’s electronic missives had barely settled into the ethernet before this was fixed.

Fortunately, it’s a relatively slow time for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which had a very busy Christmas season, by the way. Crews were able to chug out to the crossing and smooth out the problem. Unfortunately, this was before Action Line could get a phone camera on-site, so there is no “before and after.” Just the boring “after” photo that runs with this story. Spectacular, eh?

Anyway, thanks to Jeff Johnson, D&SNG general manager, and the crew for getting to this quickly and preventing more stroller blowouts and the resulting bawling babies.

“We immediately inspected and moved ahead with replacing the offending piece of timber that we found at the crossing,” Johnson said. “The planking on the west side had deteriorated and we replaced it in its entirety. Thanks to an efficient response from our Maintenance of Way team, it is now back to its former condition.”

Who knew there was a “Maintenance of Way” team?

Because of the angle of the trail as it heads down to meet the tracks, this has never been the smoothest crossing. It’s always been a little jarring on a bicycle. Although Action Line is anxious to try riding a stroller across to personally vouch for the baby-smooth improvement, that has not yet occurred.

The Animas River Trail crosses the tracks three times, by Action Line’s count: behind Durango High School, again at 32nd Street and once again at 36th Street.

Both Johnson and Ture Nycum, the city’s Parks and Recreation director, noted that the railroad and parks department work together to address maintenance issues in these areas.

“The D&SNG is proud that we have been able to cooperate together through these years with the city for the bike and pedestrian corridor,” Johnson said. “We want to continually encourage all (river trail) pedestrians that anytime one is near railroad tracks they must maintain a heightened sense of situational awareness.

“It is also important to remember that trains and other railroad equipment may be present at any time, so we encourage our citizens and guests to never assume certain times that trains may or may not be present.”

Dear Action Line: Would you consider inquiring as to the responsible party(s) to consistently remove the accumulated litter along the railroad track corridor that is very visible along the river walk? – Becky Baker

Dear Becky: Wow, so polite. Yes, Action Line did in fact consider this and indeed took Action, as is required of one in this position.

First of all, Action Line parked at Memorial Park and walked south about three-fourths of a mile to the bridge over Junction Creek. There was a cigarette butt in a crack in the asphalt (note to self: reconsider whether the words “butt” and “crack” should be so close together there), and one plastic cup several feet off the trail, and that was about it.

Someone has been doing some corridor cleanup.

Action Line then realized that there was no other way back to the Actionmobile than to walk back to it. That was demoralizing. So, that meant a return trip of another three-fourths of a mile for a total of, what, is that like 6.8 miles?

Maybe Becky was out there doing the work. Action Line could have walked right by her on this lengthy journey, but wouldn’t know Becky from any ol’ Betsy or Belinda. Action Line once went on a blind date with a girl named Belinda, but it was really just a bowling foursome. So does that qualify as a blind date? Even if it didn’t work out at all? Does that help answer the question? Are there some deep issues to resolve?

Anyway, Action Line suggests that anyone from Adeline or Adam to Zelda or Zander is welcome to pick up trash along the trail and train corridor at any time. As noted above, watch for trains. Also, the city welcomes help from anyone inclined to organize such good deeds.

Check out the city website for information about a volunteer program, Friends of Parks and Recreation, at www.durangogov.org/493/Volunteer-Opportunities, or call the administrative office at 375-7321.

Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Maybe it was just the name. It was before the Go-Gos came along and made the name cool. Sorry Belinda.