9/30/15 Quiet morning in Chama & Cumbres

[Sharon Evans]

At 7 am local in Chama there is not much happening. The Goose is over by the station on the lead and 463 and 488 simmer in front of the house. I would still like to know what is going on at Cumbres. There has been a lot of cars parked in the lot there since Monday and they have not moved even at night, so are some people camping up there? Beautiful sky over the Chama Valley.

[Larry Sullivan]

Look for a red Jeep on the Cumbres cams later - Larry G will be on the ground, we'll get some first hand reporting. Starting the day in Antonito, so may get some updates from there -- will pass along anything I get.

[Sharon Evans]

Thanks Larry, I am going to be out most of the day so will not be posting until later my time.

[Larry Sullivan]

The quiet morning is getting busy as 463 waits behind 488 at the ash pit.

488 Now getting coal, 463 getting a drink, and Goose 5 just gave the 4 toots meaning they'll leave in a few minutes.

[Larry Sullivan]

Smoke in Antonito this morning. Looks like one of the locomotives taking on water.

[Larry Sullivan]

488 now lined on the main for today's 216. 463 has a full load of coal and water, ready to be helper on 216, and Goose #5 heads to Osier and back today.

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[Larry Sullivan]

463, 484, 487, 488, 489 and the Goose #5 -- all potentially out on the line today. Is that a great narrow gauge day on the C&TSRR???

[Larry Sullivan]

Three passenger coaches added, looks like a 10 car consist today for 216 and a doubleheader with 488 as the road loco and 463 the helper.

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[Larry Sullivan]

Hmmm - 463 just cut off from 488 and heading back to the shop. Correction beside the roundhouse - getting the caboose?

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Sure did - this could be interesting.

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[Larry Sullivan]

216 heads out and will pick up the caboose by the oil rack before heading up the hill. Little late on my capture, sorry.

Now something being put on track after 216 leaves - a speeder?

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Video of all the morning activity will come later - for now I need to get out for a few hours do the chores I was supposed to do this morning.

[Larry Sullivan]

Smoke in the air - near Coxo

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Just the caboose barely showing on the Cumbres cam

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[Larry Sullivan]

Meanwhile back in the yard, a backhoe is digging a good size hole.

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Speeder has also made several trips down by the North end of the yard switches with wood and supplies, so something going on down there.

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[Sharon Evans]

Looks like they are undermining the main so maybe putting in new electric cables or something similar which would need to be under the roadbed.

[Larry Sullivan]

Larry Gibson has made it to Chama with his two sons.

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[Larry Sullivan]

Looks like they are undermining the main so maybe putting in new electric cables or something similar which would need to be under the roadbed.

Doing tie work by the switch pics to be posted momentarily in the thread for Mr. Gibson

[Larry Sullivan]

Ok - here is a heads up of what should happen today and tomorrow.

463 will return to yard 'light' shortly.
Approx 7pm a very long - perhaps 30 car - freight will leave Cumbres for the yard in Chama.
After 215 returns, the MOW train will be assembled, and will leave before 216 tomorrow morning.

That's the plan - we'll see if it all happens.

[Sharon Evans]

The MOW train should have 463 leading if they follow the earlier plan. Too bad its going to be 1900 for the freight to leave Cumbres because it will be after 2000 before it gets to Chama.

[Larry Sullivan]

The MOW train should have 463 leading if they follow the earlier plan.

Yes - 463 will lead tomorrow morning, 487 may be doing the assembly of the train this afternoon. 463 Should be back to the yard shortly

[Larry Sullivan]

463 returns from helper duty

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[Sharon Evans]

Well the work is done and hole filled up. When looking closely at the ties in the yard, you can see that they are buried to some extent so you have to dig a hole to get to them for replacement.

[Sharon Evans]

Question about these special trains. Does one crew take them all the way from Chama to Antonito or do they still recrew at Osier with the oncoming and off going crews being 'bused' back to there home base.

[Sharon Evans]

487 comes in about 30 minutes late with a 10 car 215. He pulled forward further than I have ever seen. Wonder if they have someone in the handicapped car who needs to use the lift.

[Pete Dahlberg]

Question about these special trains. Does one crew take them all the way from Chama to Antonito or do they still recrew at Osier with the oncoming and off going crews being 'bused' back to there home base.

I think it would be dependent on a number of factors.
1. Are there crew available in Antonito who could meet the special at Osier and take it back to Antonito?
2. Will the 215 meet the special at Osier or is the meet scheduled for someplace else?
3. Will the "through" crew complete the trip and their bus trip back within the FRA 12 hour duty limit?

Several years ago there was a school train following 215 and a rail car tour of the RR for the Commission. Because of delays the training engineer hit the 12 hr limit as the school train entered the Chama yard. A replacement had to be found to turn the train while he was driven back to Antonito.

[Larry Sullivan]

Wow! Lots to cover today - it's been a great couple weeks on this railroad.

09-30-15 488 and 463 prepare for the doubleheader today. 488 will be road loco and 463 the helper


09-30-15 Goose 5 departed about 10 minutes late with all the locomotive prep going on. I think I originally said going to Osier today, but they are going all the way through to Antonito


09-30-15 463 had already tied up with 488 when apparently they were told to get a caboose. 463 went to the side of the roundhouse grabbed a caboose, and spotted it down on the run around track near the oil racks. 216 picked it up on the way out.

[Sharon Evans]

487 moves the derrick and idler flat into position for the train to Antonito tomorrow.

[Larry Sullivan]

09-30-15 Train 216 Departs South Camera


09-30-15 Train 216 Departure North Camera - with the picking up of the caboose, I just let the recording run -- so longer than usual, a little over 7 minutes.

[Larry Sullivan]

09-30-15 Train 215 arrival is a bit late, with all the traffic on the rails that's not a big surprise, but a 10 car consist comes back. Three cars were pulled off after turning at the wye, so looks like a normal train tomorrow.

[Larry Sullivan]

After 215 returned and was turned on the wye, 487 went to the South yard with 3 of the coaches, and came out with an open gondola and tank car, which was added to the caboose sitting on the Friends car work track. Then 487 put back the passenger coaches in the South yard, and went down to retrieve the derrick. After a bit of switching and time to get things where they wanted, they brought the derrick back and attached it to the tank car. Seemed they did some air checks, then separated the cars again for the driveway there. What I don't quite understand is I thought we were going to see the pile driver also as part of the consist -- and isn't the pile driver also down by the oil racks? Perhaps not complete in setting the train for tomorrow --- we shall see.

09-30-15 MOW car train setup

[Larry Sullivan]

484 - I think - arrived with part of the train at about 9pm - we knew they split the train before coming into the yard. I assume the other part will be in later this evening.

489 - returned at about 9:35 local

There isn't much to see, I likely won't bother with any video - but 489 is working on breaking it's train down, 484 left it's train in the North yard. I imagine there will be some additional switching tomorrow.

463 will head out first with the MOW train, don't know the exact time but guessing 8-9am.

It's been a great day!!!

[Pete Dahlberg]

487 moves the derrick and idler flat into position for the train to Antonito tomorrow.

I was watching live (full screen) when this move took place. It appeared that there was an issue when 487 first connected up (it took a long time to pull the derrick and idler flat onto the main). It then seemed that it took a long time to push down to the siding. Once they got the derrick and idler onto the siding, there appeared to be a lot of activity related to connecting up following coupling. Eventually, 487 pulled the derrick and idler clear of the drive and took off for the ash pit. Individuals were looking / climbing under the derrick and idler for some time after they were dropped by 487. I'm wondering if there is some issue with the brake rigging?

[Sharon Evans]

Larry S, the other car in the north yard by Gramps is a spreader.

[Larry Sullivan]

Larry S, the other car in the north yard by Gramps is a spreader.

Thanks Sharon!! Larry G was down that end when 215 came in I forgot to ask him. I've lost track of where some of the cars are. Appreciate the input - and picture!!

[Sharon Evans]

No problem, took this in August when I was there.