6/11/17 Its a beautiful day in Chama

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations: The last few days the 487 and 489 have been flipping back and forth.

6-11-17 489 is coming out to the pit to start the day.jpg (132.96 KiB) Viewed 4205 times

6-11-17 489 will gets its fire cleaned for the run to Antonito.jpg (115.12 KiB) Viewed 4205 times

6-11-17 489 is now taking on water at the tank.jpg (136.43 KiB) Viewed 4201 times

6-11-17 489 backs down the main toward the coal dock lead.jpg (124.11 KiB) Viewed 4198 times

6-11-17 489 moves forward by the wood shop.jpg (138.73 KiB) Viewed 4198 times

6-11-17 489 has coal added to its bunker as one of the road crew oils around.jpg (124.64 KiB) Viewed 4198 times

6-11-17 The road crewman washes down the 489.jpg (128.38 KiB) Viewed 4197 times

6-11-17 The hostlers have now parked 489 ready for the road crew.jpg (140.13 KiB) Viewed 4197 times

6-11-17 489 has now coupled onto its train.jpg (85.3 KiB) Viewed 4195 times

6-11-17 Train 216 is now in loading position.jpg (90.36 KiB) Viewed 4194 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: 489 and 7 cars

6-11-17 Train 216 gets its highball.jpg (96.58 KiB) Viewed 4182 times

6-11-17 489 gets its train moving.jpg (133.08 KiB) Viewed 4182 times

6-11-17 489 is passing the wood shop.jpg (131.62 KiB) Viewed 4182 times

A puff of white steam from the 489 shows the engineer acknowledging the OK of the running brake test.

6-11-17 Looks like the 'waver' has upgraded to parlor today.jpg (125.76 KiB) Viewed 4182 times

6-11-17 The parlor Colorado is rounding the curve at the north end of Chama.jpg (127.43 KiB) Viewed 4182 times

[Sharon Evans]

The first engineer/fireman's class of the year is beginning today with 10 students. 484 has moved out to be their training locomotive. This will also give us several freight trains this week.

6-11-17 The first engineer-fireman class of the year is starting_.jpg (137.26 KiB) Viewed 4157 times

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: 487 and 7 cars
The train was running late and I had to leave so no still shots of this arrival.

[Edwin Frey]

At 4:20, #215 hasn't arrived yet, but locomotive #484 headed north out of town. Wonder if there's and issue with #487 somewhere up the line, or with #489 somewhere further east. Or it could just be a short run for the engineer/fireman school??? (As of 4:30, #484 was back in the yard, changed student crews, and headed back north (east) out of the yard.)

[Sharon Evans]

Ed, based on activity at Cumbres, 215 left up there around 3pm MDT. On this first evening I think they only go to the Chama side of 1st crossing.

[Edwin Frey]

Ed, based on activity at Cumbres, 215 left up there around 3pm MDT. On this first evening I think they only go to the Chama side of 1st crossing.

#215 didn't make to Chama until about 5:00. So, somewhere between Cumbres and Chama, the passengers got extra time to take in the scenery.

[Larry Sullivan]

Here's the 215 return video, as the fireman/engineer school students and locomotive await a clear track.

Apologies for not posting the last couple days, I have the video - just hadn't had time to do the edits, I'll be catching it all up soon!!!

[Pete Dahlberg]

Traditionally the school has engine familiarization on Sunday afternoon which involves several short runs to the first crossing.
The second day involves 2 runs up to Cumbres while the third day has a full trip to Antonito.
The fourth day involves bringing the train back from Antonito and graduation.