Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Galloping Goose #5 visible just west of the roundhouse. She is scheduled to take on passengers and depart the yards at 8:30 A.M. Often boards passengers at tracks adjacent to the main parking lot. However, that appears blocked at present. Hostler leaves coaling of #487 and trots toward the Goose, but stops and throws switch to allow it to have access to main line. The Goose then Gallops. Looking less possible that there will be a double header today. Locomotive #487 takes on water, moves to the coaling pit, and backs toward Train #215.
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The Galloping Goose launches itself. The initial recording is blurry, I attempted to zoom-in on the Goose but do not like results. Patience, the view gets better. The Goose acknowledges the presence of #487 with a blast of its air horn, "Hip Hip Hooray" and #487 salutes The Goose with a blast of its whistle, "Hip Hip Hooray." The high whining sound background sound comes from the turbine used to produce electricity for the train. It is so noticeable because #487 is parked at the coaling bunker, which is close to the tipple. Suggest you watch the video with YouTube full screen setting activated.

Showing excellent team work, Engine #487 pulls Train #416 away from the Chama Depot at exactly 10:00 A.M., right on schedule. The train is made up of 8 cars including a caboose, the first of the cars is joined to the tender. The engineer runs a brake test and stops the train when the test is not satisfactory. When everything meets his approval, the engineer proceeds on towards Antonito, New Mexico. Careful examination of the last parlor car reveals the conductor and Sharon standing and waving on the vestibule.

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The Denver Post published a wonderful article today about the Cumbres & Toltec engineer and fireman school. Worth reading while you wait for the train. The following link will take you to the article.

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/30/cu ... ive-train/

The departure of today's 216 was delayed due to a cylinder cock that would not close properly when it was shut. That was Tracy, the fireman who dropped to the ground to check and attempt to fix the issue.

Sharon Evans wrote:The departure of today's 216 was delayed due to a cylinder cock that would not close properly when it was shut. That was Tracy, the fireman who dropped to the ground to check and attempt to fix the issue.

Sharon, thanks for passing on that information.