Seventy-seven eager volunteers came to Chama and Cumbres this Monday morning to work on a range of restoration, repair, gardening and support projects for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. It was a mix of very new - and some very familiar - faces! John Engs, the Site Leader, welcomed the group, and especially our special guests - several Boy Scouts - who are learning how to become career railfans, and hopefully - returning volunteers!
Work for Session E includes maintenance of wheels, brakes & safety appliances for rolling stock; continuing restoration of historic RPO X54; repairs to the coal tipple; restoration of Derrick OP; repair of boxcar 3669; reparis on Chama stock pen fence; snowshed header repairs (at Cumbres); boxing of three high value cars in the north yard; converting Boxcar 3585 to the new tool car; repair of refrigerator car 163; the continuing cosmetic restoration of Engine 483; landscaping in the Chama garden area; and wood preservative treatments for rolling stock. Also keeping the volunteers active: support teams doing work session registration; food preparation; nail and bolt car operations; paint and painting operations; carpentry shop operations; reporting and documentation; and chronicling. No work is scheduled for Antonito in Work Session E, but work at Antonito will be on-going in Work Session F.
Ted and Linda