9/1/17 Friday - 455 is afoot

[Sharon Evans]

Last full month of the season begins with...
Video of the 455 activities will be coming.
Morning preparations: Looks like the K27 is going over to Antonito today with the cars needed for Monday.

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, is out at the pit.jpg (179.59 KiB) Viewed 4872 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, is taking on water for the run east.jpg (180.4 KiB) Viewed 4870 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, backs down the main as it heads to the coal dock.jpg (169.81 KiB) Viewed 4869 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, heads by the wood shop as Frank looks on.jpg (196.19 KiB) Viewed 4869 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, has coal added to the bunker for the run to Antonito.jpg (137.11 KiB) Viewed 4869 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, backs toward south yard.jpg (187.98 KiB) Viewed 4869 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, is coupled to its train.jpg (188.79 KiB) Viewed 4865 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of the extra 455 east:
Those who were watching got a treat since the atmospherics were such you could hear 455 working all the way to 1st crossing.

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, starts its freight out of south yard.jpg (201.21 KiB) Viewed 4849 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, takes the main with its train.jpg (196.68 KiB) Viewed 4849 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, comes by the wood shop.jpg (186.2 KiB) Viewed 4849 times

9-1-17 RGS 455, aka D&RGW 463, approaches the tipple with a clean fire.jpg (172.89 KiB) Viewed 4849 times

Dr. McMullen and his crews and Don Bayer and his crews put in a lot of time getting these 2 cars ready

9-1-17 RGS Here we see the RGW painted MOW bunk car and the newly rebuilt box car 3537.jpg (184.5 KiB) Viewed 4849 times

9-1-17 The train is by the tipple and there are a few lucky riders beside the crew.jpg (165.52 KiB) Viewed 4848 times

9-1-17 The 455 is by the north yard throat.jpg (186.64 KiB) Viewed 4848 times

9-1-17 The last cars of extra 455 east round the curve north of the yard.jpg (178.12 KiB) Viewed 4848 times

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations for the regular train:

9-1-17 The 489 moves away from the house to begin its day.jpg (191.36 KiB) Viewed 4845 times

9-1-17 The 489 comes up to the pit for a fire cleaning.jpg (174.42 KiB) Viewed 4845 times

The speeder has already gone to the end of the house lead, interesting

9-1-17 It is hazy from the smoke, but 489 is taking water at the tank.jpg (157.84 KiB) Viewed 4844 times

Usually can't see them doing this due to the bright sun

9-1-17 The 489 does a blow down_.jpg (185.45 KiB) Viewed 4839 times

9-1-17 The 489 backs toward the lead to the coal dock.jpg (196.76 KiB) Viewed 4836 times

9-1-17 The 489 comes by the wood shop.jpg (183.15 KiB) Viewed 4836 times

9-1-17 The loader adds coal to the bunker of 489.jpg (180.7 KiB) Viewed 4836 times

9-1-17 Work done, the hostlers leave the 489 for the road crew.jpg (176.48 KiB) Viewed 4836 times

9-1-17 The train has pulled forward into loading position.jpg (197.52 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

9-1-17 And as seen from the depot cam. Frank is that you sitting on the left as we see it-.jpg (128.2 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: 489 and 7 cars

9-1-17 Frank waits to board the parlor. Must be warm in Chama today, he took off his jacket.jpg (143.8 KiB) Viewed 4828 times

9-1-17 The 489 accelerates train 216 away from the Chama depot.jpg (210.71 KiB) Viewed 4811 times

9-1-17 The 489 comes by the wood shop.jpg (207.74 KiB) Viewed 4811 times

As the 489 is by the tipple, the engineer blows for the running brake test

9-1-17 Frank give a nice wave from the platform of the parlor Colorado.jpg (184.94 KiB) Viewed 4810 times

9-1-17 The 489 is passing the north yard throat as the parlor passes the tank.jpg (187.19 KiB) Viewed 4810 times

9-1-17 The speeder is on the main as the last cars of the train round the curve.jpg (204.51 KiB) Viewed 4810 times

[Frank Smith]

Welcome back Sharon. Thanks for the cow update yesterday Larry. The cows have been playing chicken with us all month. Yesterday we herded about 30 head from just past Long Creek clear to Cascade Creek. Sheer cliffs to our left, and steep banks to our right, so there was no place to for them get off. Every time there was a clearing 2 or 3 cows would get off and challenge us for the limited space. Just as I was convinced we would have steak for lunch instead of turkey, there was a shallow clearing to our right just before we got to the cascade trestle so the rest of the herd departed the tracks. That was an exciting 2 MPH ride.
Both trains turned at the Osier Loop yesterday for the second day in a row. I heard we were doing the same today. That will put 489 and the Colorado train set in Chama 3 days in a row.
I imagine that 9 car freight will have 455/463 pretty well maxed out on the 4% grade.
Gotta go. Gotta train to catch. I will be waving from the Parlor Car. Rubbing elbows with rich people.

[Sharon Evans]

Thinking about it, this makes sense actually, memory seems to indicate it was the Colorado set which was causing 487 the problems so why chance it even on the 1.5% which also caused issues on the dumping air, seem to remember your report of it loosing air 5 times between Osier and Sublet. Gee Frank, I don't think of myself as rich, but I always ride the parlor. Guess just a snob.

[Larry Gibson]

Welcome back Sharon. Thanks for the cow update yesterday Larry. The cows have been playing chicken with us all month. Yesterday we herded about 30 head from just past Long Creek clear to Cascade Creek. Sheer cliffs to our left, and steep banks to our right, so there was no place to for them get off. Every time there was a clearing 2 or 3 cows would get off and challenge us for the limited space. Just as I was convinced we would have steak for lunch instead of turkey, there was a shallow clearing to our right just before we got to the cascade trestle so the rest of the herd departed the tracks. That was an exciting 2 MPH ride.
Both trains turned at the Osier Loop yesterday for the second day in a row. I heard we were doing the same today. That will put 489 and the Colorado train set in Chama 3 days in a row.
I imagine that 9 car freight will have 455/463 pretty well maxed out on the 4% grade.
Gotta go. Gotta train to catch. I will be waving from the Parlor Car. Rubbing elbows with rich people.

Glad to pinch hit for Sharon!! Sorry to go "MADCOW" yesterday. However the cows walking about Cumbres reminded me of them on several of our rides on the RR and numerous close calls at Tanglefoot, Los Pinos, and Sublette. They also reminded me of this clip on the D&RGW Narrow Gauge of a fatal cow strike just north of Antonito on the Conejos River bridge. Viewer Discretion Advised:

Short Clip: https://m.youtube.com/watch?sts=17403&u ... out=mobile


Also a near miss with sheep in the San Luis Valley:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XPoibyROQ9s

[Sharon Evans]

By the way, where is 488?
Arrival of train 215:

9-1-17 The 489 brings the Colorado train set back to Chama.jpg (200.67 KiB) Viewed 4745 times

9-1-17 The 489 comes up to the tipple with its 7 car train.jpg (181.4 KiB) Viewed 4745 times

The open gon does not have any passengers in it today

9-1-17 I think that is Frank waving from seat 3 in the parlor.jpg (210.64 KiB) Viewed 4745 times

9-1-17 The back platform of the Colorado is loaded.jpg (221.37 KiB) Viewed 4745 times

9-1-17 The 489 passes the depot as Mr. Stebbins slows his charge.jpg (171.58 KiB) Viewed 4745 times

9-1-17 The train is stopped and the cleaners get to work.jpg (174.34 KiB) Viewed 4745 times

[Larry Gibson]

Thanks for the coverage today Sharon.

[Sharon Evans]

You are welcome Larry.

[Rick Calkins]

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Particularly nice short video of Locomotive #489 coming out of the left lead of the engine shop and backing up on the right lead.
The video shows the cooler blues and greens of early evening, just after the camera changed from the warm browns and reds of the afternoon.
Best viewed full screen after clicking on YouTube. Connecting the computer by HDMI to a 40inch HD TV provides sharper contrast and greater definition.

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