Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Possibly the student freight getting ready to leave.

Chama yard this morning.

Not a locomotive in sight, nor any trace of smoke ...

Preparations for today's train: 489









See above Antonito thread for latest grabs from there

Departure of today's 216: 489 and 7 cars



As 216 passes the tipple, the engineer acknowledges the conductor on good running brake test.


If you look in the black circle that I put on this shot, you see someone waving madly to the cam.

#15 got started up and went for a short run, just two trips out to the switches past the water tank, back and forth - just enough to exercise I guess.

Interesting...

Student train returns to Chama:


The 3 coaches that went over yesterday are still on the train with a box car added at Antonito.

Student train arrival cont:

Arrival of train 215: 487 and 7 cars

As the train passes the tipple, we can see some of the riders in the open gon waving to the cam.

Going through to make up the video of the day, an interesting move at the end of the day - 487 waited by the tipple, 484 came up and coupled on, and then 487 pulled/pushed to the ash pit and shop. Also notice they have been stopping at the tipple each afternoon again lately -- are they sanding there again?

I don't think the sand house is operational yet, though that is a plan of the Friends.

The box car that came over on the school freight is the concession car. We refurbished it and repainted the interior at the CRF during sessions E and F. It will be used during the Narrow Gauge Reunion and on the Friends charter in October.

Ian

Sharon Evans wrote:I don't think the sand house is operational yet, though that is a plan of the Friends.

I didn't think so either, but the last few days the 215 loco has stopped there for some reason, you can also hear metal clang after 487 stops this afternoon, like the cover being opened on the sand dome -- curious at least, hopefully someone now on the ground can get an answer. I'll have all the video up soon, as I won't be here in the morning to do them.

Here's the videos of the day ---

#489 leads as train 216 heads up the hill, leaving once again a quiet yard with no steam.



Not long after 216 left, #15 was fired up -- only movement was to the switch past the water tank, back to the ash pit, back to past the water tank, then to rest once again in front of the roundhouse. I assume this was just to give a bit of a warm-up, or perhaps a short check-out for plans in the future. Sounds like a pretty smooth runny loco though considering the down time.



First to arrive back in the afternoon was the engineer/fireman school train led by #484. Train turned at the wye, and came back to be shoved into the South yard.



Train 215 arrived a short time later, with #487 in the lead.



After 487 turned the train, she came to sit at the tipple - getting sand? Not sure, but then 484 came up and hooked onto 487. The tandem then headed for the shop. Interesting that 487 had her ashes cleaned out, but 484 did not.

i was one of the engineer students. They are now back to sanding the locos with bags (instead of the big sand contanier on the pallet) in front of the sand house. 463 is dead at Antonito and waiting to take the botany train next weekend. 484 is a great locomotive to run - it was the only one i had not run until this year. Good steamer and easy throttle to use. Great class

Jim, thanks for the update on things.

One more thing - those were the flues for 488 that were delivered this week. No work has been done on it this summer as they were waiting for the flues. They plan to start again soon now. Also, I heard that 487 is getting new tires this winter - that process would be awesome to watch.

I have seen video of a driver being re tired and it is amazing.

I may have an idea who was waving madly at the camera ... On a completely unrelated note, I will be posting photos/video of the daily train leaving both Wednesday (8/17) and Saturday (8/23) once I have time.
Enjoy,
Blake

Blake Bogs wrote:I may have an idea who was waving madly at the camera ... On a completely unrelated note, I will be posting photos/video of the daily train leaving both Wednesday (8/17) and Saturday (8/23) once I have time.
Enjoy,
Blake

Thanks Blake! Jason had said he thought that was you, glad to see you out there is paradise! Look forward to your videos!