Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Is that SP#18 I saw on the webcam sitting in Chama today?

To the best of my knowledge, SP#18, "The Slim Princess", is be worked on in Durango. She has not yet visited the C&TS.
The small locomotive that's visible in the South Tipple camera opposite the depot, which may be the one you are referring to, is D&RG 315.

Thanks . I saw SP #18 was in Durango earlier this month. Thought maybe it was making the trip over to Chama.

Dan Sarhad wrote:Thanks . I saw SP #18 was in Durango earlier this month. Thought maybe it was making the trip over to Chama.

That isn't at all likely. The 18 is at the D&S with financial arrangements having been made for its use there.
#18 is an oil burner and the D&S is converting an engine to oil from coal. The 18 could be there for several reasons including for the crews to learn oil burner operation.
You might have seen one of the K36's,or #463 and the 315 has been out in the yard for about a couple of weeks now

SP 18 has a broken piston and is awaiting repair in Durango.

Tom C.

Tom Casper wrote:SP 18 has a broken piston and is awaiting repair in Durango.

Tom C.

oof! I hadn't heard that. When it rains, it pours

There is a YouTube video of the day the piston disintegrated on SP 18 while it was on excursion on the D&S. Very interesting to watch the whole thing play out.

http://www.kevinboone.net/steam101_parts.html

Some basic info on steam locos. The third paragraph under 'The Cylinders' talks about a possible reason for SP-18's failure.

"If full-pressure steam is admitted to a cylinder whose piston cannot move properly, there is an excellent chance that this will blow the end of the cylinder off."