Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Hard to believe we're already in the last week of July - season is flying by.

487 at the ash pit this morning. Meanwhile work session folks are gathering near the depot.



After getting water at the tank, 487 heads to the coaling dock.

Smoke from Train 215 drifts over Antonito before departure.

Well this is unusual - a couple minutes to 10 and train has backed up to same position as usual before they pull up for boarding in the mornings.



A unique departure this morning for sure. Train backed up before heading out right on time, then stopped for a couple minutes at the end of the yard. Would be very interesting to find out the reason for the backing move.

I'll add one grab to what Larry G posted for departure.

FOCTS stop working and watch 216 leave the yard. A great day to work outside and ride!

A large plume of smoke drifts over into the CDOT cam's view so 216 must have arrived.

489 brings the coach set back from the wye at 4:45.

Later 489 does some post trip switching.

Here is the report from the field. The gathering this morning of the Friends was the required safety briefing prior to the start of the work week as well as the group picture. The strange action of 216's departure is related to the PBS crew here. They requested that the train start from a position further back by the depot and I do believe the stop was also for them. They spent most of the day moving around the Friend's work sites doing interviews.

Sharon Evans wrote:Here is the report from the field. The gathering this morning of the Friends was the required safety briefing prior to the start of the work week as well as the group picture. The strange action of 216's departure is related to the PBS crew here. They requested that the train start from a position further back by the depot and I do believe the stop was also for them. They spent most of the day moving around the Friend's work sites doing interviews.

Thanks for the report Sharon! Looking forward to whatever the PBS people produce from this!

Adding in a few more screen caps from the day as I wasn't here live at the time --

Lots of activity in the yard as the various teams work on their projects. Notable noise all day on the tipple cams, as work is being done on the tipple this session.



Notice one person taking what looked like pictures of the sandbox, and was looking closely at the wood -- perhaps a future repair project is coming?



215 returns with the same trainset as went out yesterday, with caboose on the rear.



After turning the train, 489 brought the train past the depot, and the caboose was put into the South yard.



Video will be up in the morning as it's time to head to work once again this evening.

Here's 216 video -



215 return, and switching of caboose off of train. Looks like 8 cars left for tomorrows train.