10/25/17 Lets play in ballast again

[Sharon Evans]

Just like yesterday, 487 is out first to get ready to run ballast trains out the line. Will there be switching today, time will tell.

10-25-17 487 has moved out from the house to begin another day.jpg (150.33 KiB) Viewed 5430 times

10-25-17 487 is over the pit for cleaning.jpg (139.64 KiB) Viewed 5430 times

10-25-17 487 has moved onto the tank to fill its cistern.jpg (129.9 KiB) Viewed 5426 times

10-25-17 487 backs down the main on the way to the coal dock.jpg (145.14 KiB) Viewed 5422 times

10-25-17 487 stops by the wood shop while one of the hostlers gets a front end loader from by the house.jpg (173.02 KiB) Viewed 5422 times

10-25-17 With the loader now at the coal dock, the 487 gets its bunker filled for a day of shuttle trips.jpg (144.92 KiB) Viewed 5422 times

Will post further stills once I am back home. Either Rick or myself will get video up, or both who knows.

[Frank Smith]

Sharon, Rick, & other video contributors to the Cam Forum. I only thought your jobs were over with the end of the tourist season. You have more activity than ever in the yard. When the pesky daily passenger trains are parked, {disclaimer} just a figure of speech. Nobody loves #215 & #216 more than I, the switchers and ballast team can get some real work done. The 463 K-27 is a great road engine, but the crews seem to favor Her as a switcher too. I am glad She finally got her back light/number boards back on.
They seem to have pushed the Jordan Spreader and the RPO/Baggage car deep into the RIP track. Clever to use the long train to keep the heavy engine out of the RIP. I liked all of those Pix & Cam posts of the switching activity. The definition is excellent on my 84" 4K Home Theater. You Friends keep up the good work, and I will enjoy it as long as it lasts. Frank {The Waver} appreciates your extra efforts.

[Sharon Evans]

Frank, as long as there is activity we will post it for all to see. This switching is harder to process then the daily trains.

[Rick Calkins]

Sharon, Rick, & other video contributors to the Cam Forum. I only thought your jobs were over with the end of the tourist season. You have more activity than ever in the yard. When the pesky daily passenger trains are parked, {disclaimer} just a figure of speech. Nobody loves #215 & #216 more than I, the switchers and ballast team can get some real work done. The 463 K-27 is a great road engine, but the crews seem to favor Her as a switcher too. I am glad She finally got her back light/number boards back on.
They seem to have pushed the Jordan Spreader and the RPO/Baggage car deep into the RIP track. Clever to use the long train to keep the heavy engine out of the RIP. I liked all of those Pix & Cam posts of the switching activity. The definition is excellent on my 84" 4K Home Theater. You Friends keep up the good work, and I will enjoy it as long as it lasts. Frank {The Waver} appreciates your extra efforts.

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Frank. I agree with Sharon, screen capturing this random yard activity is tougher to process than capturing scheduled trains. Everything I submit to the forum is captured live. The use of a 10 minute pause for camera viewing prohibits my ability to record a streaming activity of several hours, and then playback for "Friends" material later. As a result, I must sit in front of the pc monitor continually to snag the meaningful videos. There are no replays working from three cameras. Thanks for the comment about excellent definition on your 84" home theater screen. It confirms what I suspected. YouTube is pushing for large screen usage, thus prefers a minimum 720P HD submission from amateurs for rebroadcast. My wife and I enjoy Sharon's output on a 40" TV screen, accessed with a HDMI connection. The train whistles are as loud as the picture definition is excellent.

[Rick Calkins]

Initially, there does not appear to be any activity in the south yard. However, a small plume of smoke becomes active in the distance. The final two minutes is spent showing the depot and south yard lack of activity.

[Sharon Evans]

Good capture Rick, other than it was the 487 shoving away there. What time was this, I do not want to duplicate your posting.

[John Hamman]

Folks keep up the good work - I enjoy switching and seeing the historic cars moved about the yard. Much appreciated!
John

[Rick Calkins]

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Good capture Rick, other than it was the 487 shoving away there. What time was this, I do not want to duplicate your posting.

Thanks Sharon. Time taken from video meta data. Locomotive 463 has been replaced by 487 to give proper credit.
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487 Brings Ballast_2017.10.25_13h41m59s_007_.jpg (7.81 KiB) Viewed 5326 times

[Sharon Evans]

Thanks Rick, that was the first trip out. I have the video of the return and second trip out if you do not so will post it later once they get back for the evening.

[Rick Calkins]

Thanks Rick, that was the first trip out. I have the video of the return and second trip out if you do not so will post it later once they get back for the evening.

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I did not record the activity you reference, so post away.

[Sharon Evans]

The 487 brings its train back from the second run to where they are doing the track work. As the train moved past south yard, I heard it blow for route 17 so the ballast is probably somewhere near end of track.

10-25-17 487 comes back into Chama yard after its second ballast run of the day.jpg (152.29 KiB) Viewed 5320 times

10-25-17 487 comes up to the tipple with its 3 car train.jpg (155.45 KiB) Viewed 5320 times

10-25-17 487 heads on its way to where the ballast piles are for a reload.jpg (196.57 KiB) Viewed 5320 times

10-25-17 487 moves into the south yard bypass.jpg (202.7 KiB) Viewed 5320 times

10-25-17 After a refill of ballast the little train comes around south yard.jpg (201.39 KiB) Viewed 5302 times

10-25-17 Comes past the wood shop as it high tails out of Chama.jpg (197.04 KiB) Viewed 5302 times

10-25-17 487 is making some black smoke as it has passed the tipple.jpg (132.22 KiB) Viewed 5302 times

10-25-17 487 heads right by the tank on this trip without a stop.jpg (164.66 KiB) Viewed 5302 times

10-25-17 487 shoves it little train on out of Chama back to where they are doing track work.jpg (166.57 KiB) Viewed 5302 times

[Rick Calkins]

The beat goes on --- oops, the ballast runs go on. This video can be played in full screen.

[Sharon Evans]

10-25-17 Our furry friends must realize that all the tourists are gone for the year.jpg (169.85 KiB) Viewed 5298 times

[Rick Calkins]

487 Headlight Ash Dump

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487 Dumps Ash in The Dark

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487 Takes Water at Tank

You will want to use full screen to see water tube dropped down to tender.

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[Sharon Evans]

OK, prior to Rick catching the 487 at the ash pit, we had a strange move.

10-25-17 487 returns to Chama after its 3d ballast run of the day.jpg (207.67 KiB) Viewed 5244 times

10-25-17 487 parks its train on the connector track.jpg (246.2 KiB) Viewed 5244 times

It may be a drop bottom, but its hard to tell in the shape its in. Wonder if its headed to the Friends shop in Antonito.

10-25-17 Wait a minute, now the 487 is headed east with one of the hoppers and this wreck of a high sided gon.jpg (195.55 KiB) Viewed 5244 times

10-25-17 Taking on water.jpg (219.86 KiB) Viewed 5244 times

10-25-17 Finally headed back out of town with an empty hopper and that wreck.jpg (218.82 KiB) Viewed 5244 times

10-25-17 487 returns to Chama 2.5 hours later without either car.jpg (105.89 KiB) Viewed 5244 times

2.5 hours would just barely be enough time to go to Cumbres and come back, but he would have to run down the hill in reverse to come back into the yard tender first.