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Missed the departure but caught the lingering plume in the distance. Hopefully Larry's recordings have picked it up. Will have to check back in later to review the morning.

488 is hot!

The CDoT cam caught the last 2 cars of 215 at 1521.

Today's 215 is 10 cars with 489, so if they send 10 cars back tomorrow we have a double header in our future.

Sharon Evans wrote:Today's 215 is 10 cars with 489, so if they send 10 cars back tomorrow we have a double header in our future.

There was some switching of the coaches, but it does surely look like we have a 10 car consist set for tomorrow. Indeed that will require a doubleheader for the morning.

They are still doing more switching in the yard this afternoon having pulled the string of open gondolas up and adding the one that was in front of the two caboose, which now sit by themselves - for the moment.

Video review will be late today - likely overnight. They are still switching and I'm up against the clock having to head to work. Here's a few stills from the afternoons switching to tide you over until video time. Full descriptions with videos when I can get to them - sorry for the delay, pretty unusual for them to be switching until 9pm (local my time) in the evening. Would much rather stay and do video work, than go to the job, but have to pay the bills somehow!!!!

Cameras cycle from daytime to night mode as 489 runs up to ashpit after switching is finished.

So here is the video review of the day. Once again I apologize for getting things posted so late - but real life gets in the way sometimes!

09-25-15 Train 216 departs on time with 484 leading an 8 car consist up the hill.



During the time between trains 487 made an ash pit and water stop, and 488 was fired up. No signs yet of 463 which I believe is still inside the shop left side.

09-25-15 489 Brings in train 215 today. Looks like a great day for a train ride with nice sunny skies all day. 10 car consist on today's train.



Not shown on any of the upcoming switching videos - after 489 wyed the train, and returned to the depot two of the coaches were cut off, then went down into the South yard and brought back another coach which they spotted in front of the remainder of tomorrow's train. Then back to the South yard to drop off a coach, and brought back the one that came in right behind the locomotive. So essentially they dropped the 2nd coach that returned on 215 - perhaps a problem with it. Either way, we do have a 10 car consist setup to go for Saturday which will be a doubleheader departure.

09-25-15 First job for switching was going to the South yard and getting the open gondolas, attaching the one in front of the two caboose that were on the Friends car work track, and they went back to the South yard with that.



Additional switching was done between some of these moves, but not seen well enough to really show details.

09-25-15 Four of the stock cars were then brought out and they went to the depot track and picked up, I think a reefer car, and then brought that group back to the South yard. The sunlight and Golden Hour show was again quite colorful today.

09-25-15 The next order of business was to go in the North yard, and get the two grey painted MOW cars there. The open gondola and the box were switched positions, then back to get a caboose and then to the South yard. This one runs long - about 16 minutes, note the deer visit a little after the 6 minute mark.

09-25-15 The final switching of the day sees a long line of box cars, the 4 tank cars and a couple more I could not identify at the rear, all shoved into the track next to the main - which all cars in today's switching seemed to be put.



There has been a lot of switching the last few days, and much of it doesn't seem to make sense -- but I guess we'll see the eventual outcome of it all. As Pete posted in yesterday's thread, this may all be in preparation for upcoming charters. The only two I know of are the MOW charter in about a week, and then the end of October the big Chama Steam charter. It doesn't seem like things are in the right order yet for either, so I guess we'll just keep watching.

Also of interest is when does 463 head to Antonito, and what does she take with her?? I think we have some interesting days ahead!!!