Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

The wind is up and you can hear it on the cams and see the smoke from the engines blowing sideways.

Morning preparations: 489







If you look closely, there are people working on the new kitchen storage car which is parked right behind the OK flanger.

489 has gone into south yard and retrieved a fourth coach.

We can look for action in the yard later in the week since there is another Engineer/Fireman's school starting this coming Sunday.

Departure of train 216: 489 and 8 cars



The engineer of 489 is blowing for the running brake test as the train passes the tipple.

Some engine house moves:

The Friends may also be working on the coal tipple today since I just saw someone I recognized walking around it carrying boards.

Chama is getting quite the afternoon shower.

Nice catch at Cumbres, makes me wonder if 215 has 9 cars.

Arrival of train 215: Me thinks I heard the hooter! 463 and 9 cars


There are a few brave folks in the open gon as it comes by the tipple.

463 doing some switching this afternoon. So far they've added an open gondola to the main looking like perhaps a double-header is in store tomorrow, if they keep it there.

Well after several switching moves in the South yard, they now removed the open gondola from the main.



Switching continues now moving a set of 4 coaches with an open gondola at each end.

They could be working on the consist for the student train. Interesting on the most recent move was a gon with a step ladder in it. OK, they have attached the gon with the step ladder to the front of the consist. I guess we will see tomorrow what this is all about. It is hard to see but that gon looks like it has no end sills. Does it have anything to do with the movie production?????

Sharon Evans wrote:They could be working on the consist for the student train. Interesting on the most recent move was a gon with a step ladder in it. OK, they have attached the gon with the step ladder to the front of the consist. I guess we will see tomorrow what this is all about.

Sure interesting watching and trying to guess. Student train coming up this weekend, then the next weekend is the Botany train out of Antonito I think, then of course we get into the events when the Geese come over and 315 will be here --- so lots happening as the month goes on, they may well be starting to prepare for any of that now.

This is more interesting than the news. Well that gon without ends and step ladder really intrigues me.

Looks like switching is over for today. If I counted right 215 came in with 9 cars, one coach was removed and the gondola was added - so we still have 9 cars for tomorrow morning. If they don't change anything, that is for sure a double-header. I think the geology train had that gondola with the ladder, so that may well be just going over to Antonito in preparation for the botany train.

Well with 463 having just returned after 10 days in Antonito, 484 and 487 would probably get the call tomorrow if a double header is needed.

Late evening visit by a lone deer - wondering where all the nice tall weeds she used to lie in went to.

SNOW?? In August??? --- Well maybe not snow, but a fairly short storm sure had about everything in it, rain, sleet, hail, snow - quite the little storm. Here's about 3 minutes of the weather, at the end the cams freeze for a few seconds and when they come back a thunder clap. End of video just shows North and South cams after it clears out.



In other videos of the day --

Wondering what the machine sound was as 216 was getting ready to leave? The all purpose loader/forklift/backhoe was at work again cleaning the coal pit right next to the tipple.



Train 216 Departure with 489 leading and an 8 car train today.



After well over a week again spent in Antonito, 463 returns today on the afternoon train 215. Nine car consist on today's train.



Will work up something on the late switching and have it posted soon.