Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Today is another sunny, nice cool morning in Chama - temps around 51, highs to mid 70's, chance of t-storms again later this afternoon as we approach 215 arrival time.

489 is the first to move this morning, moving from the East side to West side of the shop tracks.



487 then comes out to the ash pit for a cleaning.



Will see if she's the locomotive of choice for today, or if they have something else up their sleeves.

With all the work that they have been doing on 487, maybe they are going to throw her in and see what happens.

Thorough sunlit steam, 487 makes her way to the water tank.



Now they have stopped for water on the West side of the tank on the main -- very unusual.



Backing down the main, as normal then the mystery continues as 487 appears to be headed for the South yard, though stopped for the moment. No stop for coal yet.

A large puddle left behind between the tracks as well.

489 now at the ash pit, as this interesting morning continues.

These last few mornings I have seen them fill a locomotive at the coal dock then go back up to the water tank and put more in from the main spout. Don't know if it has anything to do with all the work they did on the ground on the house lead side. Interesting morning I am going to miss most of it. Well there goes 487 on another of these short main line runs. They are going to have to add some coal soon because that bunker is getting mighty low. With that I am off to get haircut.

487 once again heads out of the yard. Would love to know what's going on with her. Seems very little coal in the tender too.

Sharon Evans wrote:These last few mornings I have seen them fill a locomotive at the coal dock then go back up to the water tank and put more in from the main spout. Don't know if it has anything to do with all the work they did on the ground on the house lead side. Interesting morning I am going to miss most of it. Well there goes 487 on another of these short main line runs. They are going to have to add some coal soon because that bunker is getting mighty low. With that I am off to get haircut.

Yes they have gone to the tank again after coaling, I believe it's to wash down the coal. Today 487 went from the East side to the West side of the tank basically a minute or so later. We'll see what 489 does.

Fire patrol speeder now at the ash pit, cooling the ashes before moving in to fill his water tank.

489 has now backed down the main and is at the coal dock, taking on coal for the day's trip.


489 has now hooked up to the train, and pulled the train to boarding position.

484 now at ash pit, 487 was backing down to the shop, and has now pulled back out past the water tank, 484 will likely water then both will be back at the shop.

489 has now pulled off the train, and 487 is out past the yard switches, 484 at the water tank -- any guesses? Is 484 going to take the train today?

484 now taking on coal, 487 heading for shop. It appears something is wrong with 489 so 484 taking over.

A quite interesting morning for sure -- 484 takes out #216, nearly on time -- great job by the crews involved!!!!



Video will be up tonight as normal.

489 heads for the shop - hopefully whatever the issues are they are minor. Will be back later with afternoon coverage of 215, posts throughout the day of any happenings.

With 487 seeming to be a bit squirrely, having 489 with problems would put a bite on operations. Wonder if 484 and 463 will swap at Osier again?

489 issues could certainly be minor -- we've seen it before where they've swapped locomotives because another was available, but could have gone otherwise. 487 is the more interesting one, no telling if it is serious or not -- but interesting that they seem to be dealing with something for a few days. Sunday begins the first engineer/fireman school of the season, so they'll need a locomotive for that too. Somehow I think the shop crew will get everything sorted out and working great!

Whichever locomotive that was in front of the east stall has moved over and gone into the west stall. The next move was for the locomotive in the east stall to move outside. The one that went into the west stall is outback of the house.

Looks like we missed the 215 on the Cumbres CDOT cams again.

Both trains are running real late. 216 has not arrived in Antonito yet from what I can see on that CDOT cam and its 1652 now.

Its not 215, but 216 pulled into Chama at 1710.

Arrival of train 215: They again swapped the engines at Osier.
Parlor Colorado adds a little colour to the afternoon with its bunting on this 9 car 215.

The 484 passes the depot as it slows.

484 is back

216 arrives over an hour late (17:15) behind 484. At 17:21 CDOT camera pics up loco in Antonito by Tank.

Here's today's videos --

#216 departs with #484 leading again.



#215 comes in about an hour late, #484 brings back the afternoon train as well.