Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

It is in the upper 30's this morning in Chama and time is running down on the season. Whether the charter will run today is a question that will be answered with activity in the yard.

Interesting activity, which may signal no charter today. 487 pulled from the west house lead and over to the east side and coupled to 463 then moved it over to the west behind the 487.

Preparations for today's 216 and 487 getting ready for the charter

It looks like one of the advanced students doing the fire cleaning on 487 and 484 has gone to the tank. So maybe there is a charter with the 487.

Activity of 487 and train 216 continued: Looks like the charter will go out after 216 again.

I guess #463 has gone inside (or through) the engine house, though I can't see any signs of smoke

Departure of 216 and charter:









The charter comes past the tipple.

Charter departure continued:

Mike Maguire wrote:I guess #463 has gone inside (or through) the engine house, though I can't see any signs of smoke

As far as I can tell Mike, looking at the video they are inside the shop, did not go out back.

And of course as soon as I finished posting that, 463 came outside and is now in front of the East shop door.

Question for anyone on the ground in Chama, is there any update to 488 as to how close they may be to finishing? Thinking was they may fire her up before or just after the end of the season, perhaps doing some short test runs.

Well considering that the new flues arrived about 6 weeks ago, would think it wouldn't be until later.

Sharon Evans wrote:Well considering that the new flues arrived about 6 weeks ago, would think it wouldn't be until later.

Good point Sharon, I forgot they were so late!

Arrival of train 215: 489 and cars
OK, I think this is the charter freight.


There are several wavers in the open gon this afternoon.




The charter seems to have left Cumbres around 3:45 - 3:50 so should be in Chama by 5 - 5:15 pm local.
According to a poster at Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum this charter was for 4 days starting Sunday so this is the final day. He also noted that there were only 3 people who did this charter with the railroad.

Here's today's video -

216 departs with a 7 car consist and 484 in the lead. 487 with the student train waits for them to clear.



The student freight departs shortly after 216, cams froze a bit on this one so had to edit some out, but got most of it. Train stopped for a bit in the North yard, likely to give 216 a little time to get ahead.



489 Brings in train 215 right on time.



Student train returns right near dusk, looks like they picked up the rest of the stock cars on their way back as well.



A group of 4 deer meander across the tracks in the North yard, illuminated a bit by 489's headlight as they sit in the South yard.