Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Looks like some rain went through the area overnight. 489 up to ash pit early, perhaps to go on it's check run we've been somewhat expecting.

Forecast is for showers today, could be a wet train ride. Better forecast for the holiday on Monday.

489 is taking water before she goes






Looks like they staged a 4th coach for today's 216

The ashpit steams as 489 moves about.

Morning preparations:

Busy morning with both 489 and 487 out and switching going on now. Will start a new photograph thread.

Departure of train 216



Do we have something that I have not seen before, 2 trains departing Chama this morning. NO!!! they are going to have 2 idler gons between the 489 and 487. To be there today since this should enable them to cross Lobato without taking off the helper.


The 489 is out of sight while we see the 487 and the idler gons in front of it.

As both locomotives clear the coaling tower, 487 acknowledges the conductors signals of a good running brake test.

With these wet condition, the smoke is wonderful.

So lets look at today. An 8 car train on wet rails is a stretch for a single K36, so double head for safety. Anyone who has ridden the train will know that coming off Labato trestle the tracks go into a left then right hand curve on a very steep grade. So to allow the train to maintain speed over the trestle and into the curves and grade use idler cars between the helper and road locomotive so you do not have to stop.

Geez Louise! it sure is wet out there! quite a contrast to where I live where it's sunny right now!

James Hook wrote:Geez Louise! it sure is wet out there! quite a contrast to where I live where it's sunny right now!

Yep, they have had enough rain in the area that the fire patrol speeder went out this morning without the water tank trailer.

It appears to be a wet day from end to end. Have to feel for those who picked this day to ride.

Larry Gibson wrote:It appears to be a wet day from end to end. Have to feel for those who picked this day to ride.

You know Larry, the folks who came to chase will do so even in this rain. How often do you have the chance to chase this type of double headed.

Looks like there is a all terrain front end loader parked up at Cumbres. Hopefully this means that they are getting ready to start putting some of that ballast into hopper cars.


Most strange, 20 minutes later it is gone so I may have gotten my hopes up for nothing.

Sharon Evans wrote:Looks like there is a all terrain front end loader parked up at Cumbres. Hopefully this means that they are getting ready to start putting some of that ballast into hopper cars.

The attachment 7.2.16 loader at Cumbres.jpg is no longer available

Most strange, 20 minutes later it is gone so I may have gotten my hopes up for nothing.

Still there on the 13:27 capture - moving around working most likely, looks like consolidating all the ballast into one big pile, rather than the small piles that were there.

Sharon - excellent coverage this morning, I missed most of the action as I had some things I needed to get done. (We do have video coming later). Now the question is will 489 be back, seems later than normal for a helper to return.

Larry Sullivan wrote:Sharon - excellent coverage this morning, I missed most of the action as I had some things I needed to get done. (We do have video coming later). Now the question is will 489 be back, seems later than normal for a helper to return.

You are most welcome, Larry. It was definitely a very busy morning trying to keep up with everything that was going on. I would think 489 would be coming back with the gons. They maybe running more tests on the new oilers. Glad that the loader is up there working away consolidating piles of ballast so it won't be so bad getting around the parking lot, and that looks like one very large ballast hill forming at the back of the lot.

Return of 489 to Chama: The 2 gons must have gone on through to Antonito. That must have been fun to watch up at Cumbres as they did that dance.

Arrival of train 215: Lets start with a grab at Cumbres of the New Mexico on the end of the 8 car train.

The train had left by the 1507 grab so should show up in Chama by no later than 1615.
By whistle, the 487 has returned to Chama so the 463 is still cycling between Antonito and Osier.

With the sun shinning this afternoon, there are still riders in the open gon.

Just watched an very interesting operation. The 484 came out from the east side of the house under its own power then stopped short of the pit. Now 489 comes out of the west stall of the house, pulls up behind the 484 and couples to its tender. Now the 489 pushes the 484 forward so they are clear the switch and pulls the 484 back into the east lead and stops short of the door to the stall.

Here's today's video --

489 First to head out for a short check ride this morning.



216 is a double-header today, unusual consist with locomotive, then two gondola, locomotive and then the normal 8 car train. Great smoke in the damp cool morning air.



489 returns to yard light



As Sharon noted above, an interesting push/pull operation.



215 Returns with conditions much drier than earlier in the day.

Interesting thought came to me. The double header was planned all along so the railroad could get those rider gons back to Antonito. The rain just caused the little change in consist with putting the gons between the locomotives so they could traverse Labato trestle without stopping to move the helper over by itself.

Considering how this day begun, the end is quiet and sunny.

Anybody know if either or both of the two gons that left Chama with the Saturday morning train in fact reached Antonito? Or were set out somewhere? As stated previously, they didn't return to Chama with the helper engine.

I missed all the action, so a big thanks to Sharon and Larry for such comprehensive coverage - fascinating stuff.

Sharon Evans wrote:

James Hook wrote:Geez Louise! it sure is wet out there! quite a contrast to where I live where it's sunny right now!

Yep, they have had enough rain in the area that the fire patrol speeder went out this morning without the water tank trailer.

Speeder was probably for rock patrol as it was on Friday, July 1. Rock patrol speeder went on at least to Osier (we got rained out before 215 came through).

Pete Dahlberg wrote:

Sharon Evans wrote:

James Hook wrote:Geez Louise! it sure is wet out there! quite a contrast to where I live where it's sunny right now!

Yep, they have had enough rain in the area that the fire patrol speeder went out this morning without the water tank trailer.

Speeder was probably for rock patrol as it was on Friday, July 1. Rock patrol speeder went on at least to Osier (we got rained out before 215 came through).

Nope, he went out after the 216 left so not rock patrol.