Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Heavy smoke this morning from the shop stack, but also a 2nd plume that may be shop heaters, but looks to me more than the shop heaters even on a cold morning. Will have to see come daylight.



Same capture, just tried to lighten it a bit in LR

It is amazing and nice that we still are getting to see active steam this deep into the off season and its only a little over 2 weeks until the Christmas trains.

Well, while I was eating breakfast, 489 headed out of town. Also looks like 487 was pulled back inside before he left. The only clear tracks are from the west stall and up the lead past the tank on out.

Looks like deep winter up on top today. Spring looks a long way off now.

one word about the snow today: Amazing! it sure is a lot to compare to the snow from where I live during which we only have it during the winter and we only get a few inches or so :)

I gotta admit, back when the Rio Grande owned the line between Antonito and Chama, the one that we see today, it sure was a lot of hard work to keep the trains running at the high elevations, even at 10,015 foot Cumbres Pass :)

James Hook wrote:one word about the snow today: Amazing! it sure is a lot to compare to the snow from where I live during which we only have it during the winter and we only get a few inches or so :)

I gotta admit, back when the Rio Grande owned the line between Antonito and Chama, the one that we see today, it sure was a lot of hard work to keep the trains running at the high elevations, even at 10,015 foot Cumbres Pass :)

In the D&RGW era trains 215 and 216, The San Juan, did the primary work of knocking down the drifts and keeping the line open with their daily passes across the line. Occasional storms would call out the flanger or rotary outfits. After January 1951 the discontinuation of the passenger trains made keeping the line open for the now irregular freights more difficult. Finally at the end of D&RGW operations they did not open the line in winter.

Now we all have hopes of a rotary excursion in the near future.....now that would be a sight!!!

Next best a refrigerator magnet!

With the snow this week and the continuing active steam, it could be like it was in the 1950's. We are very lucky this year to have had steam so long after the end of the season.

Looks like 487 is back in front of the east stall. Since no traffic in front of the coal dock, must be using one of the loader to bring coal over to the 489.

Sunset shot shows no sign of #489 - might be inside, but can't see any smoke from the roof stack ...

.

Still curious as to what 489 does on her daily outings. One would think that by now, they would have proofed out the axle oilers, since it ran with them in regular revenue service the latter part of the season. Also, interesting to note that with the new depot lighting and the snow cover, the depot cam is still rendering a color view even well after it's gotten dark.

Edwin Frey wrote:Still curious as to what 489 does on her daily outings. One would think that by now, they would have proofed out the axle oilers, since it ran with them in regular revenue service the latter part of the season. Also, interesting to note that with the new depot lighting and the snow cover, the depot cam is still rendering a color view even well after it's gotten dark.

Here's one from
Today:

With the new lights and snow I would think we would have colour until the timer cuts them off.

Edwin Frey wrote:Still curious as to what 489 does on her daily outings. One would think that by now, they would have proofed out the axle oilers, since it ran with them in regular revenue service the latter part of the season.

Edwin, where did u find the info that they were changed over during the regular season? I read or heard they weren't going to till after the season was over. Interesting!

Tom C.