7/9/16 Another beautiful day in Chama

[Sharon Evans]

Well, if they did not move locomotives around, the 489 is building up a head of steam over by the house.

7.9.15 Making steam for a day's work.jpg (167.08 KiB) Viewed 3539 times

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations:

7.9.16 489 has come out to the pit.jpg (162.5 KiB) Viewed 3537 times

7.9.16 489 has gone to the tank and gives a blow.jpg (179.77 KiB) Viewed 3533 times

Note the nice red hankie in the back pocket of the crewmen.

7.9.16 489 backs down to the coal lead.jpg (160.81 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

7.9.16 489 comes into the coal dock lead by the wood shop.jpg (187.26 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

7.9.16 Coal being loaded in 489's bunker.jpg (171.01 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

7.9.16 Service over, the 489 awaits the road crew.jpg (188.34 KiB) Viewed 3525 times

7.9.16 The fire patrol speeder is getting ready and the water trailer is close coupled.jpg (179.79 KiB) Viewed 3522 times

7.9.16 489 is now coupled to train 216.jpg (113.88 KiB) Viewed 3517 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: 7 cars with 489 leading

7.9.16 Train 216 is now in loading position.jpg (128.09 KiB) Viewed 3516 times

7.9.16 The conductor is checking his watch prior to departure.jpg (126.26 KiB) Viewed 3503 times

7.9.16 489 comes by the wood shop and gets a wave from Friends working.jpg (165.18 KiB) Viewed 3503 times

As train 216 passes the coaling tower, we can see the docent in the open gon getting ready for his day.

7.9.16 The bunting on the Colorado and the flag match nicely.jpg (161.72 KiB) Viewed 3503 times

7.9.16 The Colorado is passing the water tower as a small child runs after the train.jpg (161 KiB) Viewed 3503 times

[Sharon Evans]

This yellow object has been sitting at Cumbres now for at least a day. Is it a speeder parked up there.

7.9.16 Speeder at Cumbres.jpg (126.42 KiB) Viewed 3479 times

[Sharon Evans]

I just got word from a source that 463 is coming through today on 215. It was 2 weeks ago that she went east on the double headed and she has run up to Osier and back every day.

[Sharon Evans]

We have gotten the GOLDEN TICKET today. You can see the circle logo on the tender of 463. Also in Cumbres early, should be in Chama at 4 pm or slight before MDT.

7.9.16 THE GOLDEN TICKET AT CUMBRES.jpg (124.39 KiB) Viewed 3475 times

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: 7 cars and 463 leading. I hear me a hooter blowing for the 17 crossing, and the hand rung bell as the train enters the yard.

7.9.16 463 returns to Chama at the head of 215.jpg (172.53 KiB) Viewed 3449 times

The riders in the open gon are enjoying the afternoon.

7.9.16 New Mexico on the markers as the conductor looks ahead.jpg (170.33 KiB) Viewed 3449 times

7.9.16 463 is by the Chama depot for the first time in 2 weeks.jpg (131.3 KiB) Viewed 3449 times

[Jonathan Cordova]

463 is home

[Larry Sullivan]

We have gotten the GOLDEN TICKET today. You can see the circle logo on the tender of 463. Also in Cumbres early, should be in Chama at 4 pm or slight before MDT.

7.9.16 THE GOLDEN TICKET AT CUMBRES.jpg

Great capture Sharon! Finally the CDOT cams cooperate.

[Larry Sullivan]

This yellow object has been sitting at Cumbres now for at least a day. Is it a speeder parked up there.

7.9.16 Speeder at Cumbres.jpg

Wonder if that's the speeder that went out a day or so ago with the tank hookup farther behind it.

[Sharon Evans]

This yellow object has been sitting at Cumbres now for at least a day. Is it a speeder parked up there.

7.9.16 Speeder at Cumbres.jpg

Wonder if that's the speeder that went out a day or so ago with the tank hookup farther behind it.

Good thought.

[Larry Sullivan]

Here's today's videos -

Train 216 Departure (only South cam today) -



487 towed 484 to the ash pit then down to the water tank and back. Always fun to listen to the locomotive working with these, though today 487 seemed to have a real easy time of it.



463 returned to Chama today leading 215 in. It's been a couple weeks since she's been here, working daily out of Antonito, now hopefully she gets a well deserved day or two off.

[James Hook]

not counting the rock slide that happened on July 4th, was there any reason as to why over the past two weeks that 463 didn't come back to Chama?

[Larry Sullivan]

not counting the rock slide that happened on July 4th, was there any reason as to why over the past two weeks that 463 didn't come back to Chama?

I think just operational preference. 463 can operate out of Antonito with full size trains, whereas only being able to have 5 or 6 (I forget the number) max car trains out of Chama. Also 489 has essentially been out of service during most of the two weeks, and that may have had something to do with it. I don't believe there was a specific reason other than these. I don't think the rock-slide affected more than one day as it was cleared quickly.

[Sharon Evans]

Larry, that is what I was thinking. They were down to 2 locomotives that could take 8 car trains up the hill, and with the Cinder Bear trains you know you are probably going to have 8 cars, so no chances taken. We know 463 is capable of taking 8 car trains out of Antonito so why not leave it over there. I think one of the end results is that the 463 has run more in the past 2 weeks than it did almost all last season.

[Larry Sullivan]

Quick look through of some evening footage I saw several deer wandering through the yard, in different spots, but here a couple bucks showed up near the sandbox, 2nd one especially had a nice head of antlers growing.

bandicam 2016-07-09 22-56-35-492.jpg (96.82 KiB) Viewed 3401 times

[Pete Dahlberg]

Larry, that is what I was thinking. They were down to 2 locomotives that could take 8 car trains up the hill, and with the Cinder Bear trains you know you are probably going to have 8 cars, so no chances taken. We know 463 is capable of taking 8 car trains out of Antonito so why not leave it over there. I think one of the end results is that the 463 has run more in the past 2 weeks than it did almost all last season.

I'd speculate that RR would like to balance out the mileage each engine gets. With 463 staying in Antonito, it would be putting on 75 miles per day vs. 52 staying in Chama.
Also turning the trains has to be a pain at Osier.

[Sharon Evans]

Larry, that is what I was thinking. They were down to 2 locomotives that could take 8 car trains up the hill, and with the Cinder Bear trains you know you are probably going to have 8 cars, so no chances taken. We know 463 is capable of taking 8 car trains out of Antonito so why not leave it over there. I think one of the end results is that the 463 has run more in the past 2 weeks than it did almost all last season.

I'd speculate that RR would like to balance out the mileage each engine gets. With 463 staying in Antonito, it would be putting on 75 miles per day vs. 52 staying in Chama.
Also turning the trains has to be a pain at Osier.

I was thinking the same thing about the swap of locomotives at Osier, but by the end of the time they were doing it there was hardly a delay involved.