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It's well past midnight as a near full moon shines through clouds over the RR. July is quickly passing as this operating season moves towards its midpoint.

484 at the ash pit early this morning. I wonder if they are changing the locomotive used for the school train.



Fully fueled and watered, 484 will shortly go pick up her train for the day.

484 now backing to pick up the consist for the school train.



Train has now pulled forward and will be ready to depart soon. We'll see if they leave at 8am as they did yesterday, today's trip is through to Antonito. Curious as to why they switched locomotives, hopefully nothing major wrong with 489.



Looks like class photo time!

487 arrives at the ashpit at about 8:00 local time.

School train heads out with an extended stop at the water tank. Just as 484 blew her whistle signaling departure, 487 pop off valve let go.





487 Comes to the ash pit as the school train finally heads out.

487 gets a drink, then heads to get a load of coal.



The Antonito bound bus can barely be seen through 487's smoke. The air must be very still there today, the smoke is lingering for a long time.

The coal loader mis-placed one of his scoops. Saw a bunch of coal dust and coal shoot out on the ground under the tender, and now there is a bunch on the ground at the foot of the loading apron. Maybe more coffee would have helped.

Robert Brigham wrote:The coal loader mis-placed one of his scoops. Saw a bunch of coal dust and coal shoot out on the ground under the tender, and now there is a bunch on the ground at the foot of the loading apron. Maybe more coffee would have helped.

I think that happens from time to time. Every so often the loader goes over and scoops up the coal on the ground. Video from a recent day shows what I mean - 4th video in this post. viewtopic.php?f=79&t=3709&p=15897&hilit=loader+coal#p15909

216 Departs with 487 in the lead. A photographer up on the sand box getting a great shot!



With 489 in the shop, it's likely to be a fairly quiet afternoon until 215 comes back.

Just before 215 arrived, the speeder that was on the tipple track moved off and headed down to the wye.

487 returns with train 215.

487 at the ash pit after a days work. Additional coach was added to the main for tomorrow, so we should have an 8 car train in the morning, likely added coach is for the Cinder Bear folks. Also the speeder I noted above as having come off the tipple track went back there after turning at the wye. Another day ends in Chama. I'll have videos up either later this evening, or in the morning, from the days activity.