Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Larry G riding 216 today, so not too many updates after departure until tonight. Another great day at the railroad.

487 gets a load of coal this morning.


487 and 463 moments ago

Inside the RPO



Chama Depot Area



Dispatcher hard at work

A rough life, sitting in Jeep topping off batteries with a terrible view!!!!

Larry, Thank you for posting those!

Rich Murray wrote:Larry, Thank you for posting those!

Thank Larry G for providing them, I'm just the one having a great time enjoying his adventure!

Larry Gibson's two sons - John on the left, Keith on the right, enjoying their father's dream trip!


A proud father on the right, son John on the left

Now on board the train. We're going to try a couple near live pics posted going up the hill to Cumbres - if he keeps signal, we'll see what happens.

Several pics coming - I'm going to post then will put text in later.

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Hopefully not posting too many pics here, but to my knowledge this is the first time we've been able to do near live posting from the train on this forum.

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Just passed Dalton he's losing signal, so that may be it for a while. Might get a couple more at Cumbres

Got one more

Larry Sullivan wrote:Hopefully not posting too many pics here, but to my knowledge this is the first time we've been able to do near live posting from the train on this forum.

Larry, I believe this is the first time it's been done ANYWHERE. Semi-live photos FROM the train on the C&T. AMAZING.

(FWIW - Larry G and others, can post directly to the forum from your phone and tablet)

Signal should be pretty good to about Dalton or 2nd Crossing. From there it would be spotty until just west of Windy Point, the it's strong up to Cumbres. Once you go over the hill though,no more signal until Big Horn or Whiplash.

Train has now left Cumbres - here is the last batch of pics until late afternoon or tonight. Will organize and label all as time allows.

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Thanks again, gents. This has been a really cool display of technology, teamwork, and friendship.

That's it for now, more later. Thanks again to Mr. Gibson and his sons for sharing their adventures.

This is so damn cool! Seeing photos from the middle of nowhere, posted almost in real time is just fantastic!
The Windy point shot is also great pr for the railroad!
Good job everyone!

Just one word...........WOW!!!!!!

With Mr.Gibson's permission, I tweaked a few photos and one of his videos to post on YouTube and Twitter.

You done good, Larry. This first photo is simply STUNNING!

Pictures to follow, but here's the story of the delayed trains today. Larry Gibson's writing that he sent to me.
Yes, a great adventure. In a nut shell so you will understand pics to follow.

After we crossed 17 the brakes set. They got out and inspected. Thought it was a bad car valve. Got going again but above Tanglefoot curve they set again. 90 minutes and 4 resets and bleeding lines we were still only at the bottom of Tanglefoot curve!!!! They called Chama after deciding a valve in 487 compressor was bad for parts. Train limbed to Los Pinos tank for water, then moved to the Los Pinos siding where shop crew and GM would meet the train with compressor valve parts and concessions to pacify disgruntled tourists. We then limped to Osier for lunch. They held 463X there and swapped engines. 487X followed us to Antinito arriving after 6:00. The train with 463 blew out the brakes above Lava tank and they got excited the the 487X was too close behind:) 3-4 minutes as we could see it many times in the distance. Got back here well after dark as u saw.

I'm trying to get refreshed now so the pics will come later. For us railfans a fun day of adventure, for the leaf peepers not so good.

Ray and Jeff under open gondola on tanglefoot curve bleeding one car at a time.


Supplies delivered at Los Pinos


A tense Ray Martinez dealing with the failures


463X and 215 waiting at Osier


463 and 487 Swap Out

Lunch in Osier dining hall


The 3 Amigos after lunch


Carlos Llamos standing in 463


East of Osier


Another East of Osier


Phone battery was toast after this. I have two small videos to post next.

Two very small phone videos - will try to get them larger at a later time.
463 leaves Chama yard.



Blowdown at Tanglefoot Curve

More pics - after saying he was done.

MOW train chasing us


Brake gauge at zero - never a good thing. Happened 7 times.


Arriving at Osier


Goose #5 in Antonito

A special tradition in the Gibson household is to take a family portrait with the road engine to go on the fireplace mantel.



On board for $20 you can get a professional photograph done. In Larry's words "best $20 I spent today"


I believe that is all for the day. Tomorrow is day 3, a much more relaxing day, but I'm sure we'll get to share some more of Mr. Gibson's adventures.

Thanks to all for watching and to those that commented (from Larry G).

Jason Rose wrote:Thanks again, gents. This has been a really cool display of technology, teamwork, and friendship.

You are welcome Jason! Thanks Larry! I don't think my old fingers and eyes could post and run a thread at the same time taking the photos. Each C&TS adventure seems to be better than the last. This one is VERY Special!!!

These came into my e-mail about 4:40 this morning, guessing they were just lost in cyberspace for a while. All should be sleeping in Chama at this time.

Video as 463 Hooks up to Derrick

Some for the fall colors.