In case you are wondering what Friends’ volunteers are doing:
In Chama: Volunteers are working on lettering freight cars and rolling stock; milepost and whistle board maintenance; restoration of RPO X54 as RPO 54; Derrick OP restoration; Chama stock pen fence repair; conversion of boxcar #3585 to a new tool car; cosmetic restoration of Engine #483; repair of Flanger OK; repair of the high side gondola car #1232; developing a plan for repairing the Car Inspector’s house at Cumbres; and working on masonry pointing at the Lava pump house.
In Antonito: Work is continuing on the new Car Shelter Facility; and restoration of Cook Car 053.
Volunteers are also performing important support functions for these activities, including registration and food preparation, nut and bolt car operation, tool car operation, carpentry shop operation, reporting and documentation, chronicling, hauling and vehicle operation, and yard landscaping. One volunteer is staffing the Cumbres Exhibit Mall, as well.
IT IS A BUSY WEEK IN CHAMA as evidenced by the many “no vacancy” signs along Terrace Avenue!
Ted and Linda
- First year volunteer Jack Heiermann and Ed Lowrance untie light poles that will be used to light a walkway from the Antonito Depot/parking lot to our Car Repair Facility (CRF) in Antonito.
- These are the freshly painted GRAMPS frameless tank cars in Antonito.
- Antonito volunteers unload the light poles on Sunday afternoon.
- Linda Smith (Antonito Registration), Mike O'Nele, his father Michael (Mick) L. O'Nele and Rob Reib after the O'Neles have registered.
- Ted Norcross, of Square Nail Gang fame, moves the Friends' Kubota back into the Antonito CRF at the close of registration on Sunday.
- This shows what's left of Gondola #783 at the end of last year. It was sand blasted and Bill Pratt and his team will start the rebuild in Session D, which starts on June 24.
- Monday morning in the Chama rail yard after the Work Session "C" safety briefing and welcome from Site Leader Bob Ross
- Caroline Tower in the Kitchen Car; the sack lunches are pretty much ready to go and counted well before the dinner bell rings!
