Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Well we finally made it through the loooong winter, and opening day is here. Looking forward to a great season! I'll be posting daily video recaps, as well as perhaps other items I find interesting. Sharon, Mike, Jeff, Larry G, Edwin, Rich Murray, (and I know I'm forgetting at least one other) regularly keep us up to date with screen-caps and other great tidbits of information - a huge thank you to all that contribute. Sharon will from time to time post video she gets as well, so we hope to have great coverage of all activity this year.

Note also that on the camera page at top Jason has added links to the Friends YouTube, Twitter and Facebook -- keep checking those sites through the season for videos, shorts, tidbits, the weekly review with the Trainorders (I think we are doing that again this season). Hopefully we'll keep you well informed of yard happenings.

Most importantly, if you can, come out and ride, or support the Friends at a work session please do so, you will be welcome and have an enjoyable experience, as well as help out your favorite railroad. Check out the other threads posted through the year with pictures of work session activities. If you can't be there in person, occasionally toss something in the tip jar that's on the camera page. All contributions, small and large are very appreciated!

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend -- remember all those that have given their lives to protect this great country of ours, and remember to thank anyone in uniform for their service!

Likely double-header today with 484 and 487 - not sure which will be road and which will be helper.

Great comments to start the new season with Larry! It's been a great ride whether via the cameras from afar or when able to journey and be there in person. My current status is between trips so the cameras will fill in the void until next time. Thanks to all who maintain the cameras and post these daily threads. Let the fun begin!

A glow over the early morning yard sets the tone:

Sun is up, locomotives are hot and simmering as we wait for the action to begin on this the first day of the 2016 season. Soon Chama will be filled with happy people waiting for the opening ceremony and the whistle of the first 216 to pull out of the depot.

Another season and a great looking opening day. Thanks go out to all involved and all the time and hard work to keep steam alive. Thanks go out to all of you that provide the great videos and pics too.
Much appreciated indeed.
Regards, Phil Evans

On the depot cam you can see the string of flags that is up north of the depot. Also cars are starting to arrive into the parking lot.

Couldn't help myself with this one. Someone has parked a tricked out ride at the depot.

People starting to wander around the yard now, we should get some locomotive movement soon!

Great opening day pep-talk, Larry! Looking forward to lots of great action in the yards, and especially looking forward to a ride this September; with a daughter in grad school in Denver, a trip west from New Hampshire has been mandated! (I'll take recommendations from the team as to the best places to stay in town!) Cheers all!

Things are heating up in Antonito also:

487 at ash pit, 2nd loco in behind her now.

487 is moving out to the ash pit as the 2016 season begins.

That would be the 484.

Sharon I'll let you post - guess I didn't wait long enough!!! The fun has started!

Sharon Evans wrote:That would be the 489 since the 484 was over in front of the west door and is still there.

That's what I thought, just wasn't sure through all the smoke. Thanks for the confirm.

its 487 and 484

It is 484 - they must have switched things around when we weren't looking!

The 487 has move down to the tank and the 484 is now at the pit.

463 is seen approaching the water tank in Antonito

484 is leaving the ash pit as 487 backs down the main to get to the coal dock.

484 is now backing down the main as 487 gets its coal bunker filled for the trip. Look at all the people in the yard, you would think something is happening.

Looks like we have some interested folks in the north yard! Bodes well for a big day.

From the depot cam we see the back of lights of 487 and 484 as people gather for the opening day.

At the same time 463, over in Antonito, is getting water for its run today.

487 is now backing into the yard to pick up an extra coach or two.

484 is backing away from the coal dock as 487's headlight can be seen in the yard.

487 passes by the depot with one extra coach making today's 216 10 cars.

The opening ceremony must be underway. I can see a lot of people in the parking lot by the depot and think I hear music. No photo, its too far away from the south cam.

Departure preparations are now in full swing as 484 backs down to today's 216 as the helper locomotive.

The people mill about the depot as steam rises from both locomotives.

The all important fire control speeder gets ready for its first run of the season.

216 has moved forward to loading position revealing a caboose charter on today's train.

If I counted right when they moved, 10 cars plus caboose.

That's what I had noted above as my count.

The 2 locomotives get their fires ready for departure. Don't know about that speeder, they are working on it right now.

The first 216 of the season is underway

Passing the coaling tower in a cloud of smoke and steam

The red caboose had the markers with its red flag.

I somehow missed this shot of the departure, the hiball from the conductor.

Yee Haw! I saw the Web Cam Viewers topped off at 273 count. Beautiful day, too!

Sharon excellent coverage today, THANK YOU!

I'll work on video and have it up later, departure the cams got very choppy - we had what I think may be a record of 278 viewers on the S cam at departure, there was nearly that much on the N cam.

Thanks Larry...

Now that things have quieted down 489 comes out from the house for its daily service.

278!?!? That's fantastic.

216 has just cleared highway 17 at Cumbres with a large crowd watching.

Missed EVERYTHING today - thanks for all the screenshots, and looking forward to the video

OK, talk about the switcheroo, 487 just came back from Cumbres even though it left in the road engine position.

Kinda wondered what was going on up at Cumbres; the tail end of the trail was on the CDOT camera for two refresh cycles. A locomotive swap would explain the delay, if not the reasoning.

Well the 3:18 pm shot of the CDOT Cumbres cam is up and still no sign of 215. Either it got through between grab or its real late.

215 is running late on the opening day. The 1548 refresh has caught the last 2 cars as it is stopped for water and setting retainers. Could be at Osier since feeding that many people from both trains slowed things down. Chama arrival will be close to 1700 MDT.

Good catch, Sharon.

It is always helpful to know when that train is at Cumbres.

Jeff

Good call, Sharon! 215 arrived at 4:59 with nine cars plus the caboose.

OK. here is the arrival of 215 into Chama

463 brings 215 into Chama yard

As it passes the coaling tower we see that there is a caboose on the rear and could be the one that went out on 216 this morning

463 passes the depot as it brings 215 to a stop.

Having to transfer the caboose at Osier could also have added time to 215 today. All and all a very successful opening day for 2016, and now to fix my supper, its after 1900 here in the east.

After spinning the wye with the train, they pulled the entire train forward past the depot to back into the yard to drop the caboose.

Switching completed 463 heads for service at 6:05 local time.

Finally we'll have some video of the days activities. The 216 departure videos have a lot of skips and hiccups, I think we nearly overloaded the ISP with all the viewers, but I figured I put them up anyway -- sounds are good!!!!

Some of the morning getting ready, nice shot of 487 and 484 together while waiting for 487 to get coal. 484 gives both locos a bit of a bath too.


216 Departure South Cam


216 Departure North Cam


215 Arrives Chama

Hey, who's that old fat guy on the loading dock with the crutches? (I was handing our ear plugs to the kids) What a great day!