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Departure preparations:

The birds are singing and the frogs in the swamp are chirping as I await today's locomotive(s) to move out from the house.

487 moves away from the house under a nice display of steam

Blowing out the ash pan on 487 is dirty, dusty work

487 heads down to the coaling dock

The morning "golden hour" seems to have hit as 487 gets coal.

One of the hostlers is using steam to clean the 487

As 487 backs away from the coaling dock, 463 comes out to the ash pit

487 now heads back to the water tower to add more. We see a crew member riding the tender top.

487 is back for getting additional water and has coupled to today's 216


463 returned to the east house lead once it got its fire cleaned and water added.

Departure of train 216

Train 216 has pulled forward into load position.

As 487 accelerates train 216 away from the depot we get a nice plume of steam and coal smoke.

As parlor New Mexico passes the coaling tower 487 has left a cloud of coal smoke behind.

Thanks for all the pix everyone, today's and previously. I haven't got to see very much "live" of late, so the "catch-ups" are much appreciated.

Do the speeders get in to Chama before or after the 215?

Sharon Evans wrote:Do the speeders get in to Chama before or after the 215?

I think I remember them getting in just after 215 -- but I may be wrong on that.

Actually I just looked at last year, and they arrived around 2:30 Chama time - so could be anytime now.

The speeders have returned to Chama.

Arrival of train 215:

With a backdrop of dark storm clouds, 484 brings train 215 into Chama

As it passes the coaling tower, we can see that parlor Colorado is still wearing its holiday bunting

484 gets the train stopped at the Chama depot

Love that Storm Lighting. Very cool.

And to close the day here's the days video's -

First a compilation of the morning activity with #487 preparing for 216, #463 comes out to the ash pit, and #487 makes an extra trip to the water tank - likely to wash the coal down.


Here is 216 departure - both South and North cam views.



The NARCOA speeders return from their trip to Antonito, arriving just before 3pm they will be off the line by the time 215 arrives.



Finally train 215 returns

Larry Sullivan wrote:

Sharon Evans wrote:Do the speeders get in to Chama before or after the 215?

I think I remember them getting in just after 215 -- but I may be wrong on that.

Actually I just looked at last year, and they arrived around 2:30 Chama time - so could be anytime now.

NARCOA was loaded and gone by the time the train came in, I believe.

You are correct. I was watching and the last speeder was on its trailer and out of the parking lot long before the 215 arrived about 30 minutes late.