5/26/16 Wake up to 4 hot

[Sharon Evans]

Definitely looks like we have steam coming from 489 this morning.

[Edwin Frey]

It must be like a "Chinese Fire Drill", keeping all four locos hot, coaled, watered,and lubed. #463 is putting out a lot of smoke, probably getting ready for her journey to Antonito. This whole thing is pretty exciting, after having gone through the long winter with nothing to watch!

[Sharon Evans]

Now will they take any cars over the hill or go light, that is today's question.

[Sharon Evans]

463 gets its day started with a cleaning of its fire at the pit.

[Sharon Evans]

Continuing to get ready for its run to Antonito, 463 is now at the water tower for a fill.

[Sharon Evans]

463 is by the coaling tower as it backs down the main to get to the coaling dock.

[Sharon Evans]

Now at the coal dock the loader does its thing to get the tender full of coal.

[Sharon Evans]

With a full tender, 463 whistles for its back up move onto the main.

[Sharon Evans]

463 simmers away by the display box car as it awaits its next move.

[Edwin Frey]

At 9:00 sharp, #463 whistled off and headed out light to Antonito. Let the season begin!

[Sharon Evans]

At 0900 MDT 463 whistled off and headed east light engine.

[Larry Sullivan]

Video of 463's activity from this morning.

[Sharon Evans]

Afternoon action starts with 487 moving to the pit for cleaning.

[Larry Sullivan]

484 was at the ash pit about an hour ago, only one left should be 489

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[Sharon Evans]

487 moves to the tank for a fill up of water.

[Sharon Evans]

The lead switch to the house is set so 487 will go in front of 484. They are using a loader to ferry coal into the tender.

[Larry Sullivan]

Had to take my eyes off the tipple cams for a few, and see if I could capture any lightning shots on the depot cam. Here's the results.

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Here's a 6 minute or so clip of activity on the depot cam, they are loading supplies onto the concession car, loader brings in a tie for use as a car stop, some train sounds, some lightning -- lots of activity going on as preparations continue for Saturday.

[Sharon Evans]

Great capture on the lightening. What's with that coke machine that is sitting there?

Add: That cream paint on the depot decking looks nice now, but by August it will be a lot darker.

[Sharon Evans]

Looks like 489 has backed partially into the house. Guess they are finishing the lettering on it.

[Sharon Evans]

Well right now the Antonito CDOT cam seems to be down. This will be a bummer if we miss the arrival of 463.

Never mind we got it.

[Sharon Evans]

It almost looks like some snow mixed into the rain from this storm they are having or its a hell of a lot of hail.

[Bruce McDowell]

I know, really strange weather. The little weather nugget says it's 61 degrees, but the ground is white and I didn't really see hail bouncing off the sand house roof.

[Sharon Evans]

Now the power seems out since the cams died. Brief glitch back on.

[Sharon Evans]

A track gang is at work near the road crossing in Antonito.

[Sharon Evans]

Weather wise this has been an interesting day in Chama with sun, thunder storms with snow. Up on Cumbres it definitely has been snowing.

[Larry Gibson]

A still from Larry's video notes a very important arrival....the Coke Machine!!:) it has saved this yard explorer a few times over the years. The yard visit and a Coke go together!

[Larry Sullivan]

489 out late in the day, went down and is sitting at the water tank now.

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[Sharon Evans]

A still from Larry's video notes a very important arrival....the Coke Machine!!:) it has saved this yard explorer a few times over the years. The yard visit and a Coke go together!

It has been sitting there now all day and they wrapped a tarp around it when the storm came.

[Jonathan Cordova]

all aboard for saturday

[Jason Rose]

Love the lightning captures, Larry. Nicely done.