9-21-17 Thursday and long trains

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations: based on the input from Jim yesterday, we will have another double header out of Chama today with 10 cars as well as a 10 car train leaving Antonito.
The road locomotive today is 463 with 488 as helper on the 10 car train

9-21-17 463 makes the first move from the house this morning.jpg (229.51 KiB) Viewed 6060 times

9-21-17 463 comes over the pit to get its fire cleaned by the hostlers.jpg (219.21 KiB) Viewed 6060 times

463 has moved down to the tank for water as 488 now comes away from the house

9-21-17 463 backs toward the lead switch for the coal dock.jpg (221.8 KiB) Viewed 6060 times

9-21-17 463 moves by the wood shop as 488 is still at the pit.jpg (205.14 KiB) Viewed 6060 times

9-21-17 463 is having coal added to its bunker while 488 is at the tank.jpg (224.27 KiB) Viewed 6060 times

The 488 is at the coal dock and 463 brings the 3d extra coach out from south yard

9-21-17 The 463 has put the train together and 488 has moved up the main to clear.jpg (233.35 KiB) Viewed 6060 times

9-21-17 The 463 has pulled the 10 car train 216 into loading position and 488 is now backing down on the train.jpg (245.16 KiB) Viewed 6060 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: 488 helper, 463 road locomotive and 10 cars

9-21-17 The 488 has now coupled onto the train.jpg (248.89 KiB) Viewed 6060 times

9-21-17 The 488 and 463 are working to get their 10 car train 216 up to speed.jpg (239.38 KiB) Viewed 6058 times

9-21-17 The 488 and 463 come up to the tipple under a cloud of steam and smoke.jpg (192.08 KiB) Viewed 6058 times

The long train is passing the tipple and all cars seem full

9-21-17 As the parlor New Mexico clears the tipple, the locomotives are already at the end of north yard.jpg (216.42 KiB) Viewed 6058 times

9-21-17 As the parlor New Mexico is by the tank while the locomotives are at the curve.jpg (212.32 KiB) Viewed 6058 times

9-21-17 The last cars are rounding the curve.jpg (212.53 KiB) Viewed 6058 times

Osier is going to be a madhouse with 2 10 car trains there to be fed. This even though the 216 gets there 30 minutes before 215.

[Sharon Evans]

NACOG is running an excursion this weekend and their speeders are being unloaded now. This is going to be a busy weekend for the railroad and anyone chasing.

The speeders are being unloaded and staged for their runs

Goose 5 has arrived. It will be running on the C&TS for over a week this time.

9-21-17 The RGS Goose 5 is also in town for runs this weekend.jpg (224.89 KiB) Viewed 6050 times

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: 489 and 10 cars

9-21-17 The parlor Colorado is touching route 17 which confirms a 10 car train.jpg (182.53 KiB) Viewed 6047 times

9-21-17 The 489's headlight shines out from the gloom of the trees.jpg (184.3 KiB) Viewed 6019 times

9-21-17 The 489's is passing the tank with its long, 10 car train.jpg (184.21 KiB) Viewed 6019 times

9-21-17 The 489 is up to the tipple and the parlor is just entering the yard.jpg (184.57 KiB) Viewed 6019 times

The train is passing the tipple

9-21-17 A nice group of passengers in the open gon.jpg (184.53 KiB) Viewed 6019 times

9-21-17 The parlor Colorado is on the markers.jpg (215.18 KiB) Viewed 6019 times

9-21-17 The 489 slows by the depot awaiting Ray's signal.jpg (158.75 KiB) Viewed 6019 times

9-21-17 The train is stopped and the passengers from 8 cars get off.jpg (182.8 KiB) Viewed 6019 times

[Frank Smith]

Sharon, Friends & Guests. We rode back from Osier with a 10 car train in August behind 463/455 and she didn't strain at all. No wonder the early 1900's crews called the Mudhens "Monsters". What an honor to have such a rare jewel on our roster. A 10 car train will carry more than 290 passengers. I wonder what the actual counts turned out to be today.

[Sharon Evans]

Jim said in his post yesterday around 225 from Chama and the train looked full.

[Sharon Evans]

Here is the Goose schedule for its current stay.
Friday – September 22, 2017 Chama to Antonito. Leaves 8:30 a.m.  Bus return.
Saturday – September 23, 2017 Antonito to Osier and return. Leaves 8:30 a.m.
Sunday – September 24, 2017 Antonito to Chama. Leaves 8:30 a.m.  Bus leaves Chama at 7:00 a.m.
Monday – September 25, 2017 Chama to Osier and return. Leaves 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday – September 26, 2017 Chama to Osier and return.  Leaves 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday – September 27, 2017 Chama to Osier and return.  Leaves 8:30 a.m.
Thursday – September 28, 2017 Chama to Antonito. Leaves 8:30 a.m.  Bus return.
Friday – September 29, 2017 Antonito to Osier and return. Leaves 8:30 a.m.
Saturday – September 30, 2017 Antonito to Chama. Leaves 8:30 a.m.  Bus leaves Chama at 7:00 a.m.
Sunday – October 1, 2017 Chama to Cumbres, morning and evening trips. Leaves 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

[Sharon Evans]

The Goose 5 heads out on its check ride:

9-21-17 The Goose 5 is coming out on the main line as it heads to Cumbres for its check ride.jpg (244.07 KiB) Viewed 5998 times

9-21-17 The Goose 5 is by the tipple.jpg (221.51 KiB) Viewed 5998 times

9-21-17 The Goose 5 is almost out of north yard.jpg (215.48 KiB) Viewed 5998 times

9-21-17 The Goose 5 is by the north yard throat.jpg (213.64 KiB) Viewed 5998 times

I have the recorder running to catch the return of the Goose.

[Sharon Evans]

Does anyone know what time the speeders are leaving?????

[Robert Brigham]

Sharon,
I spoke with one of the speeder owners and he said that they will be heading out before the Galloping Goose (which is scheduled to depart at 8:30am). FYI, I will be on the Goose tomorrow. I arrived in town today just in time to see 215 arrive. I am one of the white smudges standing in the shadows of the woodshop platform. I will also be waving from the 216 Parlor Car this Sunday.
Rob

[Sharon Evans]

Thanks Rob and will have you on Sunday.

[Sharon Evans]

The Goose 5 returns from Cumbres:

9-21-17 The Goose 5 returns from its check ride to Cumbres.jpg (168.55 KiB) Viewed 5916 times

9-21-17 Coming up to the tipple we can see the motorman and his orange shirt.jpg (173.43 KiB) Viewed 5916 times

9-21-17 Having passed the tipple we see an open back door.jpg (178.09 KiB) Viewed 5916 times

9-21-17 Heading toward the wye via the south yard bypass.jpg (180.11 KiB) Viewed 5916 times

[Jim Reynolds]

Sharon, as for your comment about Osier being a "madhouse", on Wednesday we took our freight to Osier for an early lunch. 216 was scheduled to come in 20 minutes late because they had to pick up an extra coach at Cumbres to take over to Antonito. That would have put the arrival of 216 and 215 at Osier at the same time. So, Osier called the dispatcher, Wade, and asked him to hold 215 to arrive 15 minutes late so they could handle such a large crowd - 215 or so on 215 and 170 or so on 216. We left immediately after 216's arrival. 215 ended up arriving 30 minutes late and arrived at Chama 30 minutes late as well.

So, madhouse indeed, but a great "problem" for the railroad to have such good patronage - and the trees are still far from their peak.