Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Today Goose 5 heads east to Antonito. Tomorrow it does an Antonito Osier turn and returns to Chama on Friday. We will see if 216 has 8 cars, as currently staged, today as it heads east past all the Aspen Gold.

Morning activities including Goose 5 departure and preparations for today's 216: 487

Morning activities continue:

Departure of train 216: 487 and 8 cars




As the 487 passed the tipple he slows to a stop.

The fireman gets off the engine and walks up to the engineer's side cylinder.

He looks at the front of the cylinder and is heard banging on something. He has the engineer move the train forward several times and notes the steam escaping. He goes under the 487 several times until he seems satisfied.

489 getting coal and 463 at ashpit

Thanks to John Cole we're getting our cameras cleaned for the winter! A deer comes up to supervise the work as well. Tipple cams will be cleaned also.



South Cam and North Cams get a cleaning as well. Huge thanks to John for cleaning our windows on the yard, very much appreciated by those of us watching daily!

Sharon Evans wrote:Departure of train 216: 487 and 8 cars

9.28.16 216 has now moved into loading position.jpg

9.28.16 The conductor has just given the hi ball.jpg

9.28.16 The conductor is now on the platform of the New Mexico.jpg

9.28.16 The 487 comes by the wood shop, note the steam by the engineer side cylinder.jpg

As the 487 passed the tipple he slows to a stop.

9.28.16 The train has stopped by the tipple, again not the steam escape.jpg

The fireman gets off the engine and walks up to the engineer's side cylinder.

9.28.16 The fireman is checking something on the front of the cylinder.jpg

He looks at the front of the cylinder and is heard banging on something. He has the engineer move the train forward several times and notes the steam escaping. He goes under the 487 several times until he seems satisfied.

9.28.16 Satisified with whatever he die, he climbs back in the cab as the train begins moving again.jpg

9.28.16 Still moving very slowly, the New Mexico passes the tipple.jpg

9.28.16 The train is now moving out of Chama yard.jpg

Fireman is Tracy and he is probably checking the cylinder cock on the engineer's side.
Cylinder cock allows condensate to be removed from the cylinder before the condensate can damage the cylinder or piston. When open It also greatly reduces the amount of power that can be obtained from that cylinder.
Typically cylinder cocks are opened when the train is stopped and then closed once the engine has started moving. There is only one lever which controls the cylinder cocks on both sides of the engine and sometimes it gets out of adjustment and only one side will close.

Is that one lever for both front and rear cocks or does each have a separate lever.

489 is on the south yard lead and I will keep my eye on it. We have the Friend's photo freight next week so maybe its working on the consist.
Well nothing interesting happened, it just went back to the house.

It's been in that spot for a few hours now. Thought it might have derailed, but there's no activity around it.

Arrival of train 215: 484 and 8 cars


As the 215 passes the tipple we can see a number of riders in the open gon.

Sharon Evans wrote:Is that one lever for both front and rear cocks or does each have a separate lever.

1 lever opens cylinder cocks on both sides and front and rear

Pete Dahlberg wrote:

Sharon Evans wrote:Is that one lever for both front and rear cocks or does each have a separate lever.

1 lever opens cylinder cocks on both sides and front and rear

Thanks

Got rid of one of the Tims when spraying for weeds, will see if someone will get the far one tomorrow.

Thanks John. Your efforts are always appreciated.

Here's today's video -

487 leads an 8 car consist as 216 heads out. Briefly stopping by the tipple to check/fix something with the cylinders - nice explanation above by Pete Dahlberg explaining what they likely were doing. Thanks Pete, always appreciate the information!



About 30 minutes after 216 left, 489 went to the water tank and got a load of coal. 463 was getting ashes cleaned as well. 489 then went and sat on the South yard lead until about 2pm when they went back to the shop. My GUESS, and only a guess - 487 had a further problem up the line and 489 was called to stand by just in case.



Train 215 arrives with 484 in the lead.



There was some switching after 484 returned from turning 215, I'll get that up here later.