Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

463 up early this morning, preparing for the Friends Charter runs today.



Now at the coal dock.

Morning activities including departure of the photo freight and preparations for today's 216:
There appears to be frost on the ties due to the 27 degree temperature.


Do we have a double header today? Also 463 has shoved the stock cars back into south yard.

487 has moved down to the tank to get water as 489 moves to the pit


I have been watching the steam plumes down south of the yard and think that the photo freight people are taking shoots of 463 and the stock cars down by the stock pens and EoT.

Morning preparations and departure of photo freight continued:
Note that 489 is now wearing Rio Grande speed lettering so is it going to be taking the photo freight out and not acting as helper on 216?



Many interesting goings on right now!


463 pulls the stock train by the tipple.

Peeking in a bit. Here's a larger version of the 463 charter. Now back to driving!!:) Have fun posting today!!

Departure of train 216 and photo freight: 487 road locomotive, 489 helper and 11 cars, 7 coaches, snack car, open gon, tourist and parlor.

If they sold 40 seats on the photo freight, than most of the participants must by driving themselves and not riding.





Looks like one of the green coaches will be doing the flip back.

Return of 463 and second departure:
My information was the plan at the beginning was to leave the 7 stock cars at Cumbres.



That is probably 489 at the head of these cars and not 463. Looks like 489 is going out again.




489 has pulled the string completely out.


489 how pulls the train ahead on the main.

Afternoon doings continued:

Photo freight departure continued:



Will probably meet 215 at Cresco. Again it looks like the participants are chasing not riding.

Arrival of train 215: 484 and 9 cars


As the train passes the tipple we see a number of people in the open gon.

Not a lot to be really seen, but looks like they are doing the night photo shoot right by the tipple, should make for some good shots for the folks there!

I talked to Joe earlier tonight and he said they were doing a night photo shoot. Looks like the coal tipple was the location.

Ok - trying to get caught up, here are the day's video's -

The day starts with 463 pulling the extra freight to Cumbres for the Friends photo charter. 489 and 487 are preparing to take 216 up the hill.



Train 216 a double-header heads out right on time.



463 came back with the caboose, then headed out again with another string of cars for the photo freight. (No sound on this, as South cam was frozen at the time).



Train 215 returns with 484 in the lead. All four of the currently operating locomotives busy in Chama today.



After dark, 463 and caboose return, stopping at the tipple for a night photo shoot. Some flashes over by the depot as well for someone taking pictures there.

It was also a late finish! I grabbed a screen-shot (of the K27 having its fire cleaned) from the coal tower web cam at about 6.42am UK time on the Wednesday just before midnight on the Tuesday in Chama.
I don't know how to download it here, but it was quite atmospheric.
All the best,
Fred

Fred Bailey wrote:It was also a late finish! I grabbed a screen-shot (of the K27 having its fire cleaned) from the coal tower web cam at about 6.42am UK time on the Wednesday just before midnight on the Tuesday in Chama.
I don't know how to download it here, but it was quite atmospheric.
All the best,
Fred

Fred if you'd like to post the screen shot, instructions are here viewtopic.php?f=64&t=108

I think I have that recorded, I'll put a video here too.

Ok - so here is a video of 463 at the ash pit after the photo shoot. I hadn't even looked at this until Fred made his comment above, but this really is kind of a fun look. I don't know if it's all the ashes dropping or combination of lights or what, but sure has an interesting affect under the locomotive. Fred thanks for making your comment, which made me take a 2nd look. Good time to remind everyone, if you see something interesting post it, sometimes I may have it to show!

463 at the ash pit at night, with fire under it's belly (or at least the lighting makes it look that way!). By the way the background whistle you may hear on this video were not last night, it was 484 back from helper duty as I had the live video for today playing under what I was editing.

The very bright light on the near side of 463 is definitely the coals coming out of the firebox. Typically you will have a higher proportion of ash so will not get as much brightness.

Pete Dahlberg wrote:The very bright light on the near side of 463 is definitely the coals coming out of the firebox. Typically you will have a higher proportion of ash so will not get as much brightness.

Here's a couple of night shots of 463 at the pit at night to illustrate what the B/W mode didn't pick up.