Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Sunday gets off to a bright start as we await the beginning of the preparations for today's train 216.

Morning preparations:





As 487 moved to the dock it creeped by the ramp as the staff watched closely. Maybe clearance issues with the batten boards even though they were installed last summer.







With the delivery of sand last year it came in those very big bladders instead of the individual bags. They have to use a bucket to transfer it over to the dome.
This afternoon that RPO is going to gleam in the afternoon sun.

Departure of train 216:


As 487 passes the coal tower, the engineer blows for the running brake test

With the delivery of sand last year it came in those very big bladders instead of the individual bags. They have to use a bucket to transfer it over to the dome.

The plan is to eventually put the sand house back into operation. I am not privy to the schedule regarding that but while the cleaning out of the "sand box" might be only for esthetics, maybe it has a larger meaning. One can hope

Rich Murray wrote:

With the delivery of sand last year it came in those very big bladders instead of the individual bags. They have to use a bucket to transfer it over to the dome.

The plan is to eventually put the sand house back into operation. I am not privy to the schedule regarding that but while the cleaning out of the "sand box" might be only for esthetics, maybe it has a larger meaning. One can hope

I noted that the crew that was doing the cleaning also inspected the track leading to the sand pit like maybe it would be cleaned off this coming week.

Five weeks from today I will be on 216 waiting to depart.

I will be watching to see if 215 shows on the Cumbres CDoT cam, but I have figured that train length has a lot to do with this. A seven car train fits so the parlor is just out of frame on the left, while an 8+ car train is in the frame. Eight cars went east yesterday, but they may pull that car in Antonito just like they did on Friday's 216 before 215 came back with 7.

With the speeder shown the parlor is probably just ahead of it so Antonito probably took the extra coach off.

Arrival of train 215: They did the engine swap at Osier again with 487 coming back to Chama.

With the rain shower, the open gon is empty this afternoon as 215 comes into Chama

The parlor New Mexico has a full platform and the fire patrol comes behind

A quiet day in the yard today. Other than our two trains, the only real activity was 484 coming to the ash pit for a cleaning, and then going for a drink.

Here's the 216 departure this morning.



215 returns with 487 in the lead, swapping locomotives at Osier again. See if you can spot the deer quietly grazing as 487 blows the whistle and passes, totally unconcerned with the big noisy locomotive.