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by **Rick Calkins** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 12:50 am

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A Very Curious Event

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Sunday evening I was viewing a few videos taken during the afternoon and evening. Locomotive 488 had just dropped off the consist of cars scheduled for Train 216 destined for Cumbres Monday. Appearing to have finished the chores for the day, it headed toward the tipple and out of sight. The north camera showed a surprising event. Locomotive 488 stopped at the water tank, topped off its cistern from the west spout, and then backed up toward the tipple. Maybe it wasn't finished for the day afterall. (P.S. If you can't wait until 488 returns from the water tower, advance the video to the 4 minute 20 second mark.)

The south camera then revealed some surprising events. The engineer continued south until it came to a switch which allowed it to move to the next track east. Continuing to travel south until passing the depot and restrooms, and possibly past the weighing station, the engineer stopped the train, issuing a short blast of the whistle. To my surprise the engine was then moved northward and through the trees behind the engine house. The puffs of steam up through the trees revealed its progress. Not stopping at the rear of the engine house, as it sometimes does. Locomotive 488 was driven into the west bay of the engine house, through the building, and out to the ash pit. Why? Time and time again for five years, I have watched the locomotives finish the day at the ash pit, return to the water tower to top off for the evening, and then back past the pit to rest in front of the engine house. What happened to change all this?

Perhaps a clue to the change in dumping ash process can be seen in this video taken earlier in the day. You will notice a yard worker approach the speeder driver. Probably called and asked him to stop a moment. Following the brief conversation the worker with the shovel quickly goes to the pit and peers into the ???? A most curious matter. Made even more curious by his posture as he surveyed the situation. What happened to cause this? He was very careful not to step onto where he was looking.

Engine House is Building To Left ______Roundhouse is Building to Right

Attribution: Chama Visitor's Center

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by **Sharon Evans** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 5:17 am

The track he used once in south yard is the bypass of the yard on the east side. As to why they did it this way, who knows.

by **Frank Smith** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:01 am

Who wants to back into that nasty old Ash Pit, when you can face it head on!!!

by **Pete Dahlberg** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 9:19 am

May have been an issue with the switch leading from the main to the engine house.

by **Larry Gibson** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 10:28 am

Train 316 is crossing HWY 17 on Cumbres at 11:21local time.

by **Rick Calkins** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 11:43 am

Larry Gibson wrote:Train 316 is crossing HWY 17 on Cumbres at 11:21local time.

Larry, another rather nice catch. Particularly drawn to the sharpness of the photo and representation of the colors. Thanks.

by **Sharon Evans** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 12:38 pm

I am currently hearing a lot of metal on metal sound from the tipple mic but cannot see it. This would imply that they are working on one the switches which go into the swamp, there are 2 of them.

by **Bruce McDowell** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:07 pm

If you look on the South Camera in the very lower left corner you can now see some ties lying against the bank up to the coaling tower fill lead. Seems to validate the assumption of track worth down in that area. They'll have to get the the ash pit one way or another so I guess we'll be seeing some "unusual" traffic patterns.