WORK SESSION D - DAY FOUR

[Ted Smith]

The Friends volunteers for this session have done yeoman duty, working way past normal work hours to make sure that tasks were well in hand as Friday's focused on cleaning up and organizing things for the August sessions. While we didn't get back to Antonito today, it looks like 50% of the purlins will be installed by the end of this work session.

The few rain showers were welcomed by the volunteers. Our Colorado Springs volunteers were feeling a bit of relief upon hearing that the firefighters had better weather conditions today to fight the wildfires. Volunteer Maggie McMullen left Chama yesterday and arrived home to report that the smoky haze over the city had somewhat subsided and conditions had improved. Let's all hope that this continues!

Ted and Linda

Young passengers, eagerly awaiting CINDER BEAR TRAIN!

The metal roof has been installed on Sheep Car 5633

Team Leader Scott Hardy and Founder/Site Leader Bill Lock discuss how many new "roof cradles" should be made for Sheep Car 5633

This photo is a closeup of the shape of the "roof cradles"

George Detwiler and Scott Stover paint new roof walk boards for Sheep Car 5633

Vicki Schober, Spero Bettalico and Docent Billie Crider put up temporary tent cover for "hamburger day" activities!

Team Leader Bill Pratt (Gondola Rebuild) is first in line for expertly grilled 'burger!

Team Leader Marshall Smith with Friends' Kobota helps Team Leader Bill Pratt and his crew save some backaches by moving 2x10's (30-feet long) so they can slide them down to the flat car that Derrick OP's cabin has been sitting on until yesterday

All 2x10's have been moved to the flat car; they will be used for the sides and ends of the gondola

Larry Ferrell has been removing rust from the inside of the cab on 483

[John Cole]

That little tractor never seems to get a chance to cool off as it is working all day. The 483 sure has a long way to go, but it is great to see its finally getting attention, and like everything else, when you keep at it, it will get done.

[Greg Raven]

The 483 should be declared a "Historical Preservation Disaster Area". This is an important project and I'm glad to see the Friends are stepping up to the plate and getting the job done.

Regards,
Greg

[John Cole]

It's great seeing the 83 started on the road to start looking good at least cosmetically. The CATS would be years behind getting put back together again if that little engine hadn't worked so hard for her crews moving all the other dead engines and cars back from Alamosa, (I think that every single car and engine bought by the states 42 years ago was hauled by the 483), and then be the only engine running the first years of the CATS. She really helped save her railroad and we owe it a lot!

Hopefully we will see the 483 hot again someday soon. (Foamer mode off now) :-)

[John Cole]

I just talked to Lea Parks who was on Bill Pratt's team restoring the high side gon (under the tarp in photo 7) and if you look at photos 8 you will see two boards they used to slide those 30' long 2X10s down to the flat car so Bills team could cut them to length. Pretty clever!