Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Building steam pressure and putting on a show.

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Prior to boarding the San Juan Train #216, passengers are allowed the opportunity to roam the Chama Depot yard and look at the equipment and facilities up close. It is the only way to appreciate the immensity of the locomotive, the noise it generates, the soot and smoke drifting in the air, and the pungent odors it emanates. Another one of the special moments, when riding the Cumbres&Toltec Scenic Railroad.
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I just love the way the white primer on box 3537 seems to just glow.

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San Juan Train #216 is pulled nosily out of Chama Depot by Locomotive #488 at 10:01 A.M., followed by 8 cars, and watched by 104 Chama Cam fans. After exiting the north end of the yard, the engineer gives a wake up call to tourists, at the campground adjacent to the bridge. If you look closely, a fire supression speeder can be seen as a moving spot as it hustles to catch up with the train. A lucky rider waves from the vestibule of the parlor car after the train passes the coal tipple. Yes, we waved back.
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The open air gondola may look somewhat sparse and uninviting as it passes through the yard headed towards Cumbres Pass. But, don't let that fool you. As soon as the train has met all of the safety requirements, passengers begin to flock to the gondola. The views are spectacular. The air is thin and riders know that they are in the high country. A docent is available to answer all questions, major and seemingly important only to you. The docent is another volunteer and Friend of the railroad. They can be heard in the background suggesting points of interest that you might want to capture on your camera device. There are also the other gondola adventurers calling out, "Hey look over there at that!"
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We will have 2 arrivals in Chama this afternoon since the botany train is also running west today.

There must be an interesting story behind why #215 is so late getting in today. As i write this, it's over 90 minutes late.

Mr. Ed.

Two trains late. Do we get two stories from you?

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487 arrived without cars

I have no"inside source". Just saw #487 come in without a train. I'm just as curious as you are about what's happening. At 6:30. #463 showed up with 13 cars: 6 Botany train and the 7-car regular consist.

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Locomotive #487 Limps into yard at 5:53 PM without train. She stops shortly after passing the wood shop. Two hostlers come out from behind Round House and meet with engineer at switch. Locomotive #487 then moves off main line and stops across from Round House. We learn later that the delay was caused by an issue with the engine brakes.
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Looks like 463 to the rescue!

Bill you are right. It is Locomotive #463 bringing in the train(s).

This YouTube video contains Locomotive # 463 bringing home the bacon, err., the passengers. The train consists of 13 cars , which includes 3 open air gondolas, and one caboose. The passengers were out in force waving at friends there to greet them.

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Rick Calkins wrote: 487 Limps into yard at 6:18 PM without train.

Hey Rick, all I got is 9 seconds of nothing. Where is the beef (OPS I mean train)?

Tom C.

Mr. Tom

Look again. How do you like your beef? Raw or medium raw?
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And now on top of everything else it is raining. Well that's railroading! A big credit to all CATS employees because breakdowns are a very rare occurrence for sure.

Hey you guys, I waited forever in alternating freezing cold and blazing sun on the grassy knoll, but still no trains. 487 had engine brake problems. The high point of the day was watching 463 turn both trains at once. She took every ounce of her 27,000 pounds of tractive effort to get the job done. I didn't even know we had that much tail track at the Y.

Frank Smith wrote:Hey you guys, I waited forever in alternating freezing cold and blazing sun on the grassy knoll, but still no trains. 487 had engine brake problems. The high point of the day was watching 463 turn both trains at once. She took every ounce of her 27,000 pounds of tractive effort to get the job done. I didn't even know we had that much tail track at the Y.

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Frank, thanks for relaying the rest of the story to us. No doubt that 463 turning those trains will be a major highlight of your trip.
Rick
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posts

Sent: Sun Aug 06, 2017 6:19 pm
From: Tom Casper
To: Rick Calkins
Hi,

Can't you delete/edit out your bad posts? U are hard to follow.

Tom C.

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Mr. Tom, rewrite the bad posts and we'll look to substituting yours. Which did you want deleted? Sometimes in life you have to take what they give you

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