Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

The final operating day of the 2014 season is here, and judging by the numbers it sure looks like the food bank is getting a lot of donations to help those in need. I think this is certainly a great thing the railroad is doing for the community. Let's hope it can become an annual event!

I'll capture all action for today, however for now only uploading video through 2nd train departure - will have more later. As anyone that was on at the time saw, the cams went down for a while right as the 2nd train was leaving. Cams are back up for now - hopefully just a minor ISP issue.
#1 - #488 emerges into the cool morning air. Great steam show on all these videos.

#2 - #488 heads to the coal dock.

#3 -- First train of the day departs -- about 20 minutes late, seems some minor issue with the last car, front end loader was nearby the car.

#4 - First train of the day returns -- cameras started skipping here.

#5 - Second train departs -- train pauses then starts up again, and then the cameras went down.

#6 - Second Train Returns

#7 - Filling the air with coal smoke Train #3 for the day departs

#8 - Train #3 of the day returns -- good crowd in the gondola, and back platform of the last car is full too!

#9 - Topping off with water, a mixed snow/rain shower starts as #488 hooks up for the 4th run of the day

Interesting that for the final train of the day, they turned the locomotive and headed out "face first".

#10 - Fourth train of the day departs

#11 - Fourth train for today returns


Interesting to note that they went to the wye and turned the locomotive for the final run of the day. All other trains both last week and this left the yard with the locomotive running tender first -- seems that the final train will run out of the yard normally, which would indicate tender first on the return. Curious why they would change for the final run. -- The answer to this was provided when Roger posted his YouTube video of one of the runs - wheel slip, sanders didn't help going up the hill tender first.

#12 - The fifth and final Christmas train, and final train of the season departs. Originally they showed 180 tickets for each train, and today's were showing as sold out on the website -- so that would be 900 riders today. Assuming with the open car added late, they could possibly have had even more, will be interesting to see the final numbers.

#13 - The Fifth train returns


More video to come later once it's uploaded of the moving of the cars in the yard.

At 6:18PM, #488 backed into the engine house, having dropped her fire after the last trip of the year. Ironically, within the past 30 minutes, a snowstorm of considerable force has moved in on Chama, timed just right so that today's riders didn't have to deal with it! Earlier, the rider gon and concession car were moved back into the yard, and the five coaches were shoved down on the track by the Friend's boxcar. So much for 2014, but what a great year!

Final videos for today -- Edwin's description above is perfect for them, so I won't add to it.

488 Heads for cover with a final toot goodbye for the season.

Wind driven snow, as the door closes to the shop

Awesome job, Larry. Both of you.

Love that last whistle blast before heading inside. Very cool.