06-30-16 Last Day of June

[Larry Sullivan]

First full month of operations will close out today, Friends projects will continue as well.

Mule deer seem to like the spot by the sandbox, they are there often lying down. I didn't even notice this one until she got up. Looked around a bit then slowly moved off in the direction of the swamp.

bandicam 2016-06-30 07-39-10-302.jpg (87.6 KiB) Viewed 3734 times

489 pulled out from shop this morning, perhaps the work is done and she's ready to go. Maybe we'll see a shakedown run today.

[Sharon Evans]

Here is a still to go with Larry's video of 489 outside again. Normal practice would put 487 on today's 216, but one never knows until the locomotive comes out for service.

6.30.16 All 3 K-36 out front.jpg (156.47 KiB) Viewed 3720 times

[Sharon Evans]

Guess this happened yesterday evening, but the RPO has been moved back to the depot with no evident painting done.

6.30.16 RPO is back at depot.jpg (95.37 KiB) Viewed 3713 times

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations for train 216:

6.30.16 487 has moved to the pit to begin its day.jpg (174.36 KiB) Viewed 3708 times

6.30.16 A little change in routine, water from the main line side.jpg (170.33 KiB) Viewed 3705 times

6.30.16 After taking water, 487 continues to back down the main.jpg (167.82 KiB) Viewed 3704 times

6.30.16 487 moves into the coal dock lead by the wood shop.jpg (183.62 KiB) Viewed 3702 times

6.30.16 487 gets the coal it needs for its trip to Antonito.jpg (162.69 KiB) Viewed 3702 times

6.30.16 487 has stopped for the handoff to the road crew but is blocking the access road today.jpg (164.28 KiB) Viewed 3699 times

6.30.16 487 has backed down to the train and coupled on_.jpg (104.79 KiB) Viewed 3695 times

[Larry Sullivan]

[quote="Sharon Evans"]Guess this happened yesterday evening, but the RPO has been moved back to the depot with no evident painting done.

Sharon after 215 turned they came back from the wye, and before spotting the coaches at the depot they pushed the RPO back to it's spot at the depot. Perhaps it will be another work session before painting the final coats?

[Sharon Evans]

Maybe during 'E', would be nice to photograph that happening. Though stand way back since the mist from the spray gun moves a long way and I sure do not want Pullman green on my clothes.

[Sharon Evans]

Well I thought that the spreader OK would get gray, but, no, its getting red paint.

6.30.16 Spreader OK is getting red paint.jpg (162.06 KiB) Viewed 3699 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216:

6.30.16 Train 216 has moved into loading position.jpg (107.64 KiB) Viewed 3692 times

6.30.16 Hi ball Chama 216.jpg (135.79 KiB) Viewed 3673 times

6.30.16 A nice mix of smoke and steam from 487 as it passes the wood shop.jpg (173.2 KiB) Viewed 3673 times

Two fans are photographing the train as 487 passes them. You can see the completed OK in the left frame and it is red.

6.30.16 Parlor Colorado is by the coaling tower.jpg (156.45 KiB) Viewed 3673 times

[Sharon Evans]

In an afternoon shower 489 is now hot.

6.30.16 489 is hot_.jpg (161.47 KiB) Viewed 3654 times

489 has gone out to the water tower and 484 is switching from west to east lead.

6.30.16 489 backs down the main on its way to the depot.jpg (150.15 KiB) Viewed 3652 times

Its hard to see exactly what is going on but I think that they are swapping crews from the hostlers to a road crew. It did not look like there was a whole lot of coal in the bunker when it passed the cams. When it came back by, there looked like plenty to get up to Cumbres, if that is where they are going, and back.

6.30.16 489 heads by the wood shop on its way out of Chama.jpg (160.26 KiB) Viewed 3648 times

6.30.16 489 returns from its test run.jpg (164.2 KiB) Viewed 3639 times

[Sharon Evans]

Looks like they sent the 8 car train back today as 215 that went over yesterday as 216. We will see once the train gets close to Chama, but the fact of it being at Cumbres prior to 3 pm makes me think they did not do a locomotive swap at Osier today so 463 will be leading.

6.30.16 215 is stopped at Cumbres.jpg (136.2 KiB) Viewed 3639 times

[Larry Gibson]

A rain shower rolls through the yard at mid afternoon. Some of that blowing dust will settle for awhile.:) Enjoying the coverage over the last several days as I can. Thanks!

[Sharon Evans]

Been several showers today which, I am sure, has wet the ground nicely. Since this rain began earlier in the week, the fire patrol speeder has come back to Chama ahead of the 215 instead of following it.

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: Sounds like they did do the swap. The whistle I am hearing sounds like 487. This means that the 463 has now run 6 days without a break.

6.30.16 As 487 brings 215 into Chama the sun has come out.jpg (164.59 KiB) Viewed 3616 times

A few people are in the open gon even though they went through rain on the way down the hill

6.30.16 The New Mexico passes the wood shop as the Friends look on.jpg (168.72 KiB) Viewed 3616 times

6.30.16 Steam condenses in the damp air as 487 passes the depot.jpg (101.82 KiB) Viewed 3616 times

[Pete Dahlberg]

Guess this happened yesterday evening, but the RPO has been moved back to the depot with no evident painting done.

6.30.16 RPO is back at depot.jpg

It is being repainted for a custom use and the exact color has not yet been specified. It will be repainted to the historic color following the custom use. The paint crew is going to be busy.

[Sharon Evans]

Thanks Pete, this will be interesting to watch.

[Pete Dahlberg]

In an afternoon shower 489 is now hot.

6.30.16 489 is hot_.jpg

489 has gone out to the water tower and 484 is switching from west to east lead.

6.30.16 489 is getting water as 484 switches sides.jpg

6.30.16 489 backs down the main on its way to the depot.jpg

Its hard to see exactly what is going on but I think that they are swapping crews from the hostlers to a road crew. It did not look like there was a whole lot of coal in the bunker when it passed the cams. When it came back by, there looked like plenty to get up to Cumbres, if that is where they are going, and back.
489 did not make it all the way to Cumbres. Whether this was by plan or by problem, I don't know. The Cumbres crew left after 215 had come through but before the rain hit the pass.

6.30.16 489 heads by the wood shop on its way out of Chama.jpg

6.30.16 489 returns from its test run.jpg

[Larry Sullivan]

Video from today --

#487 is the locomotive for the day, comes to the ash pit then gets water from the West side of the tank, spilling quite a bit onto the ground. The small spreader also gets it's coat of red paint today.



Train 216 Departure



Train 215 Arrival, with 487 once again making the round trip to Osier.



Interesting sequence after 215 train gets turned. 487 backs through the South yard and comes back up on the depot track. They hook onto the RPO as if to move again, however there seems to be some issue with the storage car. Either they coupled into it by mistake causing a problem, or perhaps they had some kind of other issue, but they were looking underneath the car for quite a while. An attempt to pull forward at one point leads to someone yelling stop. Net result was only moved back and forth a few feet. Have to wonder what, if any, the issue is.

[Sharon Evans]

That was interesting to watch. Hope someone on the ground like Pete can let us know what the problem was.

[Pete Dahlberg]

That was interesting to watch. Hope someone on the ground like Pete can let us know what the problem was.

I have not heard anything about the problem but from what was mentioned there may have bee n a problem with the brake rigging.