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Definitely looks like we have steam coming from 489 this morning.

It must be like a "Chinese Fire Drill", keeping all four locos hot, coaled, watered,and lubed. #463 is putting out a lot of smoke, probably getting ready for her journey to Antonito. This whole thing is pretty exciting, after having gone through the long winter with nothing to watch!

Now will they take any cars over the hill or go light, that is today's question.

463 gets its day started with a cleaning of its fire at the pit.

Continuing to get ready for its run to Antonito, 463 is now at the water tower for a fill.

463 is by the coaling tower as it backs down the main to get to the coaling dock.

Now at the coal dock the loader does its thing to get the tender full of coal.

With a full tender, 463 whistles for its back up move onto the main.

463 simmers away by the display box car as it awaits its next move.

At 9:00 sharp, #463 whistled off and headed out light to Antonito. Let the season begin!

At 0900 MDT 463 whistled off and headed east light engine.

Video of 463's activity from this morning.

Afternoon action starts with 487 moving to the pit for cleaning.

484 was at the ash pit about an hour ago, only one left should be 489

487 moves to the tank for a fill up of water.

The lead switch to the house is set so 487 will go in front of 484. They are using a loader to ferry coal into the tender.

Had to take my eyes off the tipple cams for a few, and see if I could capture any lightning shots on the depot cam. Here's the results.


Here's a 6 minute or so clip of activity on the depot cam, they are loading supplies onto the concession car, loader brings in a tie for use as a car stop, some train sounds, some lightning -- lots of activity going on as preparations continue for Saturday.

Great capture on the lightening. What's with that coke machine that is sitting there?

Add: That cream paint on the depot decking looks nice now, but by August it will be a lot darker.

Looks like 489 has backed partially into the house. Guess they are finishing the lettering on it.

Well right now the Antonito CDOT cam seems to be down. This will be a bummer if we miss the arrival of 463.

Never mind we got it.

It almost looks like some snow mixed into the rain from this storm they are having or its a hell of a lot of hail.

I know, really strange weather. The little weather nugget says it's 61 degrees, but the ground is white and I didn't really see hail bouncing off the sand house roof.

Now the power seems out since the cams died. Brief glitch back on.

A track gang is at work near the road crossing in Antonito.

Weather wise this has been an interesting day in Chama with sun, thunder storms with snow. Up on Cumbres it definitely has been snowing.

A still from Larry's video notes a very important arrival....the Coke Machine!!:) it has saved this yard explorer a few times over the years. The yard visit and a Coke go together!

489 out late in the day, went down and is sitting at the water tank now.

Larry Gibson wrote:A still from Larry's video notes a very important arrival....the Coke Machine!!:) it has saved this yard explorer a few times over the years. The yard visit and a Coke go together!

It has been sitting there now all day and they wrapped a tarp around it when the storm came.

all aboard for saturday

Love the lightning captures, Larry. Nicely done.