10/21/18 Sunday double header Final day of 2018 season

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations: 31 degrees in Chama this final morning of the season.

All is quiet in Chama as the locomotives simmer in the dawn light

2018-10-21 The 488 comes out from the house to get ready to lead the last 216 of the season.jpg (99.65 KiB) Viewed 4517 times

2018-10-21 The 488 is now over the pit so the hostlers can clean its fire.jpg (88.34 KiB) Viewed 4517 times

2018-10-21 The 488 has moved to the tank for water and a hostler is pulling the spout down.jpg (93.65 KiB) Viewed 4514 times

2018-10-21 The hostlers back the 488 down to the coal dock lead.jpg (100.94 KiB) Viewed 4509 times

The 487 has come out to the pit as 488 has coal added to its bunker

2018-10-21 The hostlers prepping the 488 are done and have parked it for the road crew.jpg (105.35 KiB) Viewed 4503 times

2018-10-21 The 487 has moved to the tank to get its cistern filled.jpg (106.02 KiB) Viewed 4500 times

2018-10-21 The 487 now heads to the coal dock.jpg (102.76 KiB) Viewed 4500 times

2018-10-21 The 487 gets the coal it needs for the run up to Cumbres and back.jpg (109.16 KiB) Viewed 4500 times

[Sharon Evans]

Preparation continued and departure of last 216 for 2018:

2018-10-21 The 488 has gone into south yard and comes out with the 2 extra coaches that were put there after 215 came in yesterday.jpg (73.42 KiB) Viewed 4498 times

2018-10-21 The 488 has shoved the train together so we have an 11 car 216 to end the season.jpg (80.6 KiB) Viewed 4497 times

The 11 car train 216 is now in loading position

2018-10-21 The 487 has now coupled onto the 488 and the last 216 of 2018 is ready to depart.jpg (111.63 KiB) Viewed 4492 times

2018-10-21 The conductor has his arm raised to signal the high ball.jpg (101.09 KiB) Viewed 4475 times

2018-10-21 The conductor is now on the parlor as the last 216 of 2018 starts to move out of Chama.jpg (100.62 KiB) Viewed 4475 times

2018-10-21 The 487 and 488 are bathed in steam as they get this 11 car train moving.jpg (116.47 KiB) Viewed 4475 times

A nice long train to end this successful 2018 season

2018-10-21 The conductor is still on the platform of the parlor as it passes the tipple.jpg (115.23 KiB) Viewed 4475 times

2018-10-21 The parlor New Mexico is passing the tank as a couple of fans watch.jpg (111.73 KiB) Viewed 4475 times

2018-10-21 The last cars of the last 216 for this season enter the curve.jpg (112.56 KiB) Viewed 4475 times

[Sharon Evans]

Afternoon doings:
484 has come to the pit and taken water at the tank and back to the house.

2018-10-21 The 216 is at the pass, look above the white truck and there is a haze of smoke.jpg (133.93 KiB) Viewed 4462 times

The 484 is simmering at the house and the yard is quiet. Omen of things to come.

2018-10-21 The 487 has returned to Chama from the last helper assignment of this season.jpg (86.03 KiB) Viewed 4441 times

2018-10-21 The 487 passes the depot as it heads to the wye.jpg (82.49 KiB) Viewed 4441 times

If you look at the image above that includes the south cam and this shot from the south cam, the bunk car that was painted RGS orange is now in primer.

2018-10-21 Some one in the Friends paint crew, maybe Brad, has been busy this afternoon.jpg (110.65 KiB) Viewed 4423 times

This explains why these 2 cars were placed here yesterday afternoon. The Friends are going to paint them back to D&GRW colours.

[Jonathan Cordova]

do we know when the hospital train will depart

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of the final train 215 for the 2018 season:

2018-10-21 Train 215 has arrived at Cumbres Pass for the final time this season.jpg (116.72 KiB) Viewed 4423 times

2018-10-21 The headlight of 463 shines out as it brings the last 215 of the 2018 season into Chama.jpg (95.56 KiB) Viewed 4396 times

2018-10-21 The 463 is up to the tank with its 9 car train.jpg (95.48 KiB) Viewed 4396 times

2018-10-21 The 463 is approaching the tipple.jpg (94.32 KiB) Viewed 4396 times

As the train passes the tipple, the open gon is full of happy passengers

Click on the image to see both frames.

2018-10-21 The parlor Colorado is on the markers of the last train and its platform is also full.jpg (149.13 KiB) Viewed 4396 times

2018-10-21 Mr. Stebbens slows the 463 as it passes the cleaning crew.jpg (84.83 KiB) Viewed 4396 times

2018-10-21 The train is stopped and the conductor is placing the step box so passengers can get off.jpg (87.13 KiB) Viewed 4396 times

[Sharon Evans]

do we know when the hospital train will depart

There will probably be one Jonathan, but it will just happen. Last year it came over from Antonito and then returned. No warning in Chama until it came in.

[Claude Wilkerson]

Hope the north and south cameras stay up this winter

[Sharon Evans]

Me also Claude.

[Larry Gibson]

Perhaps it just me, but the crowd seemed to linger just a bit longer after detraining on the last day to savor the moment.
Sharon, THANKS for your earnest and hard work to chronicle the RR this year!! I know it is most appreciated.
Larry

[Larry Gibson]

On an interesting note: 463 appeared to stop and take water from both spouts on the way to the enginehouse....lingered just a bit on the ashpit...didn't appear to shake the grates or clean with air... then zipped into the right stall...Interesting......

[Sharon Evans]

Post arrival doings:

2018-10-21 Once back from the wye, they pulled the train forward enough so the staff was able to unload the cafe car of all items inside.jpg (96.45 KiB) Viewed 4361 times

2018-10-21 I takes all hands to accomplish this task before the train is put to bed.jpg (95.17 KiB) Viewed 4361 times

It is kinda weird to see the train sitting there like it is ready to head out in the am with 11 cars and we all know deep down its not going anywhere.

2018-10-21 This done the train is shoved back and the 2 extra coaches are detached and pulled the other side of the house access road.jpg (91.61 KiB) Viewed 4361 times

[Farol Henkle]

I, too, enjoyed watching the "final day" via web cams, and to see my favorite engine, Squeeky" #463, coming back; and to also watch the "Broom Baton Man" giving us a good show of his baton twirling. It was a great day, and thank you to all "behind the scenes." Greatly appreciated! (Just got my 2019 calendar yesterday.)

[Jason Rose]

Hope the north and south cameras stay up this winter

There are no plans to shut them off. If the hardware stays solid, the cams will stay up.