07-02-16 Wet Day Ahead

[Larry Sullivan]

Looks like some rain went through the area overnight. 489 up to ash pit early, perhaps to go on it's check run we've been somewhat expecting.

Forecast is for showers today, could be a wet train ride. Better forecast for the holiday on Monday.

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bandicam 2016-07-02 08-15-06-304.jpg (112.79 KiB) Viewed 4886 times

[Sharon Evans]

489 is taking water before she goes

7.2.16 489 taking water.jpg (154.18 KiB) Viewed 4882 times

7.2.16 nice steam as 489 moves to the house lead switch.jpg (149.85 KiB) Viewed 4879 times

7.2.16 489 backs down the main to get to the coal dock.jpg (145.36 KiB) Viewed 4879 times

7.2.16 moving into coal dock lead.jpg (151.49 KiB) Viewed 4879 times

7.2.16 489 takes coal and no dust on this wet morning.jpg (128.92 KiB) Viewed 4879 times

7.2.16 Another rain shower is hitting Chama as we wait_.jpg (129.7 KiB) Viewed 4870 times

Looks like they staged a 4th coach for today's 216

7.2.16 489 heads by the wood shop on its way out of Chama.jpg (146.35 KiB) Viewed 4861 times

7.2.16 Nice smoke as 489 steams by north yard.jpg (100.67 KiB) Viewed 4861 times

7.2.16 489 heads into the curve toward the river.jpg (131.51 KiB) Viewed 4861 times

7.2.16 489 steams back into Chama by 487.jpg (161.07 KiB) Viewed 4844 times

[Larry Gibson]

The ashpit steams as 489 moves about.

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations:

7.2.16 487 steams out to the pit_.jpg (140.5 KiB) Viewed 4854 times

7.2.16 487 it taking water.jpg (144.29 KiB) Viewed 4846 times

7.2.16 487 backs through a wet north yard.jpg (156.5 KiB) Viewed 4841 times

7.2.16 487 moves into the coal lead as 489 simmers in the background.jpg (155.34 KiB) Viewed 4841 times

7.2.16 487 takes coal for the day as 489 steam by_.jpg (98.78 KiB) Viewed 4838 times

7.2.16 489 is taking water from the main line side as 487 still takes coal.jpg (153.23 KiB) Viewed 4837 times

7.2.16 487 has backed to the train as 489 backs toward south yard.jpg (164.3 KiB) Viewed 4836 times

[Sharon Evans]

Busy morning with both 489 and 487 out and switching going on now. Will start a new photograph thread.

7.2.16 Movement everywhere.jpg (170.32 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

7.2.16 489 has an open gon, 484 is at pit and 487 at train.jpg (148.21 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

7.2.16 487 has shoved the 4th coach onto today's 216.jpg (102.32 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

7.2.16 489 is getting sand and a road crew has gotten on.jpg (137.28 KiB) Viewed 4827 times

7.2.16 489 has 2 open gons behind him.jpg (160.42 KiB) Viewed 4823 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216

7.2.16 Today's train 216 is now in loading position with 8 cars.jpg (106.42 KiB) Viewed 4823 times

7.2.16 Conductor is handing up orders to locomotive crew of 489.jpg (163.77 KiB) Viewed 4822 times

Do we have something that I have not seen before, 2 trains departing Chama this morning. NO!!! they are going to have 2 idler gons between the 489 and 487. To be there today since this should enable them to cross Lobato without taking off the helper.

7.2.16 Double header today but with idler gons between the locomotives.jpg (158.62 KiB) Viewed 4819 times

7.2.16 489 and 487 get a 10 car 216 underway in the rain.jpg (145.6 KiB) Viewed 4791 times

The 489 is out of sight while we see the 487 and the idler gons in front of it.

7.2.16 The idler gons and 487 the road locomotive.jpg (143.14 KiB) Viewed 4791 times

As both locomotives clear the coaling tower, 487 acknowledges the conductors signals of a good running brake test.

With these wet condition, the smoke is wonderful.

7.2.16 Parlor Colorado is by the coaling tower.jpg (150.42 KiB) Viewed 4791 times

[Sharon Evans]

So lets look at today. An 8 car train on wet rails is a stretch for a single K36, so double head for safety. Anyone who has ridden the train will know that coming off Labato trestle the tracks go into a left then right hand curve on a very steep grade. So to allow the train to maintain speed over the trestle and into the curves and grade use idler cars between the helper and road locomotive so you do not have to stop.

[James Hook]

Geez Louise! it sure is wet out there! quite a contrast to where I live where it's sunny right now!

[Sharon Evans]

Geez Louise! it sure is wet out there! quite a contrast to where I live where it's sunny right now!

Yep, they have had enough rain in the area that the fire patrol speeder went out this morning without the water tank trailer.

[Larry Gibson]

It appears to be a wet day from end to end. Have to feel for those who picked this day to ride.

[Sharon Evans]

It appears to be a wet day from end to end. Have to feel for those who picked this day to ride.

You know Larry, the folks who came to chase will do so even in this rain. How often do you have the chance to chase this type of double headed.

[Sharon Evans]

Looks like there is a all terrain front end loader parked up at Cumbres. Hopefully this means that they are getting ready to start putting some of that ballast into hopper cars.

7.2.16 loader at Cumbres.jpg (125.94 KiB) Viewed 4750 times

Most strange, 20 minutes later it is gone so I may have gotten my hopes up for nothing.

[Larry Sullivan]

Looks like there is a all terrain front end loader parked up at Cumbres. Hopefully this means that they are getting ready to start putting some of that ballast into hopper cars.

The attachment 7.2.16 loader at Cumbres.jpg is no longer available

Most strange, 20 minutes later it is gone so I may have gotten my hopes up for nothing.

Still there on the 13:27 capture - moving around working most likely, looks like consolidating all the ballast into one big pile, rather than the small piles that were there.

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[Larry Sullivan]

Sharon - excellent coverage this morning, I missed most of the action as I had some things I needed to get done. (We do have video coming later). Now the question is will 489 be back, seems later than normal for a helper to return.

[Sharon Evans]

Sharon - excellent coverage this morning, I missed most of the action as I had some things I needed to get done. (We do have video coming later). Now the question is will 489 be back, seems later than normal for a helper to return.

You are most welcome, Larry. It was definitely a very busy morning trying to keep up with everything that was going on. I would think 489 would be coming back with the gons. They maybe running more tests on the new oilers. Glad that the loader is up there working away consolidating piles of ballast so it won't be so bad getting around the parking lot, and that looks like one very large ballast hill forming at the back of the lot.

[Sharon Evans]

Return of 489 to Chama: The 2 gons must have gone on through to Antonito. That must have been fun to watch up at Cumbres as they did that dance.

7.2.16 489 is back from Cumbres without the gons.jpg (153.17 KiB) Viewed 4735 times

7.2.16 by the wood shop.jpg (157.7 KiB) Viewed 4735 times

7.2.16 by the depot with storm clouds gathering again.jpg (111.72 KiB) Viewed 4735 times

7.2.16 489 is back from the wye.jpg (166.76 KiB) Viewed 4732 times

7.2.16 489 is back at the house after a successful run up the hill and back.jpg (171.61 KiB) Viewed 4732 times

7.2.16 After a long day, time for a clean of 489.jpg (163.93 KiB) Viewed 4727 times

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: Lets start with a grab at Cumbres of the New Mexico on the end of the 8 car train.

7.2.16 We have an 8 car 215 headed to Chama.jpg (144.38 KiB) Viewed 4727 times

The train had left by the 1507 grab so should show up in Chama by no later than 1615.
By whistle, the 487 has returned to Chama so the 463 is still cycling between Antonito and Osier.

7.2.16 487 brings an 8 car 215 into Chama with the sun shinning.jpg (166.08 KiB) Viewed 4709 times

With the sun shinning this afternoon, there are still riders in the open gon.

7.2.16 New Mexico in on the end with the car host standing on the platform.jpg (183.57 KiB) Viewed 4709 times

7.2.16 487 comes by the depot as it slow.jpg (138.25 KiB) Viewed 4709 times

[Sharon Evans]

Just watched an very interesting operation. The 484 came out from the east side of the house under its own power then stopped short of the pit. Now 489 comes out of the west stall of the house, pulls up behind the 484 and couples to its tender. Now the 489 pushes the 484 forward so they are clear the switch and pulls the 484 back into the east lead and stops short of the door to the stall.

7.2.16 The locomotive shuffle.jpg (175.46 KiB) Viewed 4718 times

[Larry Sullivan]

Here's today's video --

489 First to head out for a short check ride this morning.



216 is a double-header today, unusual consist with locomotive, then two gondola, locomotive and then the normal 8 car train. Great smoke in the damp cool morning air.



489 returns to yard light



As Sharon noted above, an interesting push/pull operation.



215 Returns with conditions much drier than earlier in the day.

[Sharon Evans]

Interesting thought came to me. The double header was planned all along so the railroad could get those rider gons back to Antonito. The rain just caused the little change in consist with putting the gons between the locomotives so they could traverse Labato trestle without stopping to move the helper over by itself.

[Sharon Evans]

Considering how this day begun, the end is quiet and sunny.

[Paul Davenport]

Anybody know if either or both of the two gons that left Chama with the Saturday morning train in fact reached Antonito? Or were set out somewhere? As stated previously, they didn't return to Chama with the helper engine.

[Mike Maguire]

I missed all the action, so a big thanks to Sharon and Larry for such comprehensive coverage - fascinating stuff.

[Pete Dahlberg]

Geez Louise! it sure is wet out there! quite a contrast to where I live where it's sunny right now!

Yep, they have had enough rain in the area that the fire patrol speeder went out this morning without the water tank trailer.

Speeder was probably for rock patrol as it was on Friday, July 1. Rock patrol speeder went on at least to Osier (we got rained out before 215 came through).

[Sharon Evans]

Geez Louise! it sure is wet out there! quite a contrast to where I live where it's sunny right now!

Yep, they have had enough rain in the area that the fire patrol speeder went out this morning without the water tank trailer.

Speeder was probably for rock patrol as it was on Friday, July 1. Rock patrol speeder went on at least to Osier (we got rained out before 215 came through).

Nope, he went out after the 216 left so not rock patrol.