Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Once again our group of mule deer - likely the same as last week - milled around the sand box this morning, this time staying put for a while.

"Deer friends" making a walk through! Should they pay a few "bucks" for the experience?
RR could make some "doe" that way!! Sorry couldn't resist:) Thanks Larry!

#15 is being fired up.

#15 has pushed #463 back into the engine house, and then pulled #497's tender to behind the engine house. Also, the CDOT cams are showing that Jason will very likely get his wish to see snow on opening day, if not in Chama, then certainly up Cumbres Pass!

Let's hope a little of that snow stays in Cumbres, would make for great opening day photos. The SNOTEL site up there went from 7 inches to 13 inches on the ground, so had to be a fairly significant snow yesterday and last night.

#15 pushes #463 and whatever locomotive that was inside the shop.


#487's tender moved to back of shop, soon to be mated to it's locomotive.

Methinks that whenever and whatever locomotive is returned to Antonito, a plow might be in order! If #489, which was shoved back out of the engine house this morning, is assigned, that would fill the bill.

The 463 is back out and further forward then before.

15 is out and headed somewhere back in the yard or behind the house.

#463 was pulled back out in front of the shop by the front end loader. Throughout the afternoon there was smoke seen behind the shop - perhaps sandblasting of some kind? Throughout the afternoon also the front two locomotives, 463 and whichever one is to its left - had workers all over them -- painting I would assume. Finally around 4pm #15 was fired up and brought behind shop where it's currently parked. All is quiet this evening with another rain shower going on, tomorrow may be a day of something steamed up!

One day last year, I saw 6 deer in the yard and they were heading over to the bunk house. Either that, or Roger's hotel. BTW, back here in Michigan, I rode with the sister Mudhen #464 this morning. They announced that there were "only 2 in the whole world." Hmm, wonder where the other one is? lol.

Farol Henkle wrote:One day last year, I saw 6 deer in the yard and they were heading over to the bunk house. Either that, or Roger's hotel. BTW, back here in Michigan, I rode with the sister Mudhen #464 this morning. They announced that there were "only 2 in the whole world." Hmm, wonder where the other one is? lol.

Many mornings through the season we are treated to early morning visits from the mule deer. They seem to like munching on the greenery around the yard, often not bothered by any yard activity. The run of 464 looked interesting this morning (I was treated to some pics sent to me), 9 or 10 cars and most looked full. Looks like a great train ride!

Larry Sullivan wrote:

Farol Henkle wrote:One day last year, I saw 6 deer in the yard and they were heading over to the bunk house. Either that, or Roger's hotel. BTW, back here in Michigan, I rode with the sister Mudhen #464 this morning. They announced that there were "only 2 in the whole world." Hmm, wonder where the other one is? lol.

Many mornings through the season we are treated to early morning visits from the mule deer. They seem to like munching on the greenery around the yard, often not bothered by any yard activity. The run of 464 looked interesting this morning (I was treated to some pics sent to me), 9 or 10 cars and most looked full. Looks like a great train ride!

The first section was a 14 car train behind 464 on a crisp but sunny spring day. Here are a few shots for this board. Today was a preseason Senior Day. Regular season begins Saturday like C&TS. Two Mudhens will soon be a waddling.

464 comes through a curve with the village church in the background and on the west reversing loop.