8/9/16 Windy start to the day

[Sharon Evans]

The wind is up and you can hear it on the cams and see the smoke from the engines blowing sideways.

8.9.16 The wind is blowing.jpg (162.95 KiB) Viewed 3638 times

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations: 489

8.9.16 The 489 comes out to the pit to begin preparations.jpg (161.22 KiB) Viewed 3634 times

8.9.16 The 489 has its water tank filled at the water tower.jpg (194.84 KiB) Viewed 3632 times

8.9.16 The 489 backs down to the coal dock lead switch.jpg (156.31 KiB) Viewed 3630 times

8.9.16 The 489 now moves into the coal dock lead.jpg (168.77 KiB) Viewed 3630 times

8.9.16 here comes the coal.jpg (173.83 KiB) Viewed 3630 times

8.9.16 One of the hostilers washes down the 489.jpg (159.42 KiB) Viewed 3628 times

If you look closely, there are people working on the new kitchen storage car which is parked right behind the OK flanger.

8.9.16 The hostilers have backed the 489 almost to the depot_.jpg (183 KiB) Viewed 3623 times

489 has gone into south yard and retrieved a fourth coach.

8.9.16 We have an 8 car 216 today.jpg (109.52 KiB) Viewed 3621 times

8.9.16 489 has backed onto the train with the extra coach.jpg (114.49 KiB) Viewed 3621 times

[Sharon Evans]

We can look for action in the yard later in the week since there is another Engineer/Fireman's school starting this coming Sunday.

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: 489 and 8 cars

8.9.16 Train 216 has moved forward into loading position.jpg (129.47 KiB) Viewed 3621 times

8.9.16 Hi ball Chama 216.jpg (128.96 KiB) Viewed 3608 times

8.9.16 489 puts out some nice steam as it gets 216 up to speed.jpg (173.18 KiB) Viewed 3608 times

The engineer of 489 is blowing for the running brake test as the train passes the tipple.

8.9.16 The conductor is still on the platform of the New Mexico.jpg (166.51 KiB) Viewed 3608 times

8.9.16 216 is almost out of Chama yard.jpg (159.59 KiB) Viewed 3608 times

[Sharon Evans]

Some engine house moves:

8.9.16 484 has pulled 487 out of the west stall.jpg (172.52 KiB) Viewed 3619 times

8.9.16 then shoved it in front of the east stall.jpg (178.74 KiB) Viewed 3619 times

8.9.16 Finally 484 went over in front of the west sta;;.jpg (180 KiB) Viewed 3619 times

[Sharon Evans]

The Friends may also be working on the coal tipple today since I just saw someone I recognized walking around it carrying boards.

[Sharon Evans]

Chama is getting quite the afternoon shower.

[Sharon Evans]

8.9.16 The storm has passed as the 484 comes out to get clean and water.jpg (177.53 KiB) Viewed 3586 times

8.9.16 The 487 has come out also.jpg (158.09 KiB) Viewed 3584 times

8.9.16 As 484 heads to the tank we see that 487 has moved to the west lead.jpg (164.86 KiB) Viewed 3583 times

8.9.16 484 is at the tank taking water.jpg (163.84 KiB) Viewed 3583 times

8.9.16 487 nows comes back out from the west lead.jpg (169.17 KiB) Viewed 3580 times

8.9.16 and moves back over to the east lead in front of 484.jpg (186.48 KiB) Viewed 3580 times

[Sharon Evans]

Nice catch at Cumbres, makes me wonder if 215 has 9 cars.

8.9.16 You can see the last 2 cars on 215 as well as one of the buses.jpg (141.35 KiB) Viewed 3583 times

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: Me thinks I heard the hooter! 463 and 9 cars

8.9.16 463 has returned to Chama at the head of a 9 car train.jpg (162.81 KiB) Viewed 3568 times

There are a few brave folks in the open gon as it comes by the tipple.

8.9.16 Colorado on the rear and I would swear that the man in the bib overalls went out on 216 this morning.jpg (165.18 KiB) Viewed 3568 times

8.9.16 463 comes by the RPO as it gets ready to stop.jpg (136.55 KiB) Viewed 3568 times

[Larry Sullivan]

463 doing some switching this afternoon. So far they've added an open gondola to the main looking like perhaps a double-header is in store tomorrow, if they keep it there.

Well after several switching moves in the South yard, they now removed the open gondola from the main.

bandicam 2016-08-09 19-24-14-050.jpg (106.22 KiB) Viewed 3560 times

bandicam 2016-08-09 19-26-04-542.jpg (103.09 KiB) Viewed 3560 times

Switching continues now moving a set of 4 coaches with an open gondola at each end.

bandicam 2016-08-09 20-00-17-140.jpg (122.64 KiB) Viewed 3550 times

bandicam 2016-08-09 20-01-31-146.jpg (136.29 KiB) Viewed 3550 times

[Sharon Evans]

They could be working on the consist for the student train. Interesting on the most recent move was a gon with a step ladder in it. OK, they have attached the gon with the step ladder to the front of the consist. I guess we will see tomorrow what this is all about. It is hard to see but that gon looks like it has no end sills. Does it have anything to do with the movie production?????

[Larry Sullivan]

They could be working on the consist for the student train. Interesting on the most recent move was a gon with a step ladder in it. OK, they have attached the gon with the step ladder to the front of the consist. I guess we will see tomorrow what this is all about.

Sure interesting watching and trying to guess. Student train coming up this weekend, then the next weekend is the Botany train out of Antonito I think, then of course we get into the events when the Geese come over and 315 will be here --- so lots happening as the month goes on, they may well be starting to prepare for any of that now.

[Sharon Evans]

This is more interesting than the news. Well that gon without ends and step ladder really intrigues me.

[Larry Sullivan]

Looks like switching is over for today. If I counted right 215 came in with 9 cars, one coach was removed and the gondola was added - so we still have 9 cars for tomorrow morning. If they don't change anything, that is for sure a double-header. I think the geology train had that gondola with the ladder, so that may well be just going over to Antonito in preparation for the botany train.

bandicam 2016-08-09 20-17-01-864.jpg (131 KiB) Viewed 3547 times

bandicam 2016-08-09 20-20-41-483.jpg (123.26 KiB) Viewed 3547 times

[Sharon Evans]

Well with 463 having just returned after 10 days in Antonito, 484 and 487 would probably get the call tomorrow if a double header is needed.

[Larry Sullivan]

Late evening visit by a lone deer - wondering where all the nice tall weeds she used to lie in went to.

bandicam 2016-08-09 22-40-19-330.jpg (83.05 KiB) Viewed 3526 times

[Larry Sullivan]

SNOW?? In August??? --- Well maybe not snow, but a fairly short storm sure had about everything in it, rain, sleet, hail, snow - quite the little storm. Here's about 3 minutes of the weather, at the end the cams freeze for a few seconds and when they come back a thunder clap. End of video just shows North and South cams after it clears out.



In other videos of the day --

Wondering what the machine sound was as 216 was getting ready to leave? The all purpose loader/forklift/backhoe was at work again cleaning the coal pit right next to the tipple.



Train 216 Departure with 489 leading and an 8 car train today.



After well over a week again spent in Antonito, 463 returns today on the afternoon train 215. Nine car consist on today's train.



Will work up something on the late switching and have it posted soon.