Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

489 at the ash pit early this morning, today we should see the school train make a couple trips up to Cumbres, as well as 216 and 215.





A Visit to get water, then back up the main and over to the coal dock for the coal loading.



Always fun to watch the students on the first morning. A little too fast here, a wheel slip there, overshoot the coal dock a bit. By the end of the day, they'll be operating as if they've run trains forever! I think I'd just be too nervous I'd break something!!!

489 Now hooked up to her train.

With the school train now ready to go, we should have a departure shortly.

School train departs, just about on time just after 8am.

Preparations for 216 begin, and it looks like 484 is once again the choice for today's run.

484 backs past the tipple as a couple photographers watch the action. The fire patrol speeder is getting ready for the day as well.



With the hostlers job complete, the road crew will soon take over.

487 has moved from the East side shop lead over to the West side, and backed 1/2 inside the door.



484 has backed to her train, and once everything is ready will pull forward for boarding.

btw, today is my birthday! I'm 20 years old now!

James Hook wrote:btw, today is my birthday! I'm 20 years old now!

Happy 20th James!!!! Enjoy the day!

216 pulls out at 10:05 behind 484 today.

Skies look like they have cleared nicely from what was rather cloudy earlier in the day, as 216 heads up the hill.

Always thought it interesting that the rider gon on the school trains is in front of the caboose and not right behind the locomotive. At each change in students they have to walk the whole train.

Student train at the pass in the 11:11 CDOT capture. Going to need to take the siding and/or get turned rapidly if 216 is on schedule.

Sharon Evans wrote:Always thought it interesting that the rider gon on the school trains is in front of the caboose and not right behind the locomotive. At each change in students they have to walk the whole train.

Caboose has supplies and bathroom (albeit tiny) facilities. Also Caboose is a shelter from bad weather. Finally it has the best view on the train.

caught the school train turning on the wye! :D

Nice catch, James. Its always the luck of the draw to get something on those CDoT cams.

Live coverage was a bit lacking today as one of the team is headed to the paradise of Chama, and the other two were slacking with things going on in real life -- will be better tomorrow! Anyway here's the video selection of the day, I may find more to add tomorrow as well.

School train departs on the first trip to Cumbres



Train 216 Departure



School train return and 2nd departure. Note the consist change on departure 2 - they dropped a gondola and added a 2nd flat, did the switching after lunch. On the way out they stopped for water as normal, but also looked like working on something under the caboose, or the rear coupler - will add full video of that work later.



Train 215 return and soon after the 2nd return of the school train.