9/24/16 Cold Chama morning

[Sharon Evans]

Our friends in Chama are waking up to 27 degrees this morning and with the snow on Cumbres yesterday and snow showers in town, not only has fall arrived but winter is giving them a tasting sampler.

If its 27 in Cumbres must be at least 10 degrees colder on the passes.

[Larry Sullivan]

Our friends in Chama are waking up to 27 degrees this morning and with the snow on Cumbres yesterday and snow showers in town, not only has fall arrived but winter is giving them a tasting sampler.

That sounds soooo nice! I'm in the mid 70's going to 90 again, and the humidity today is thick enough to cut with a knife!

[Sharon Evans]

Our friends in Chama are waking up to 27 degrees this morning and with the snow on Cumbres yesterday and snow showers in town, not only has fall arrived but winter is giving them a tasting sampler.

That sounds soooo nice! I'm in the mid 70's going to 90 again, and the humidity today is thick enough to cut with a knife!

If you ever get to 27 its a "state of emergency"!

[Larry Sullivan]

Our friends in Chama are waking up to 27 degrees this morning and with the snow on Cumbres yesterday and snow showers in town, not only has fall arrived but winter is giving them a tasting sampler.

That sounds soooo nice! I'm in the mid 70's going to 90 again, and the humidity today is thick enough to cut with a knife!

If you ever get to 27 its a "state of emergency"!

My part of the State we can get into the 20's in winter. What I really laugh about down here, anything below about 60 is "freezing" to the locals, winter jackets come out -- I usually am in shirt sleeves unless it gets to the 40's -- then maybe a light jacket. People think I'm nuts! Maybe they're right?

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations for today's 216: 463 road locomotive and 487 helper
Its in the mid twenty's this morning, the coaches have been sitting all night and they do not have any heat. Going to be a nippy ride today.

9.24.16 First at the pit this cold morning is 463.jpg (114.37 KiB) Viewed 2779 times

9.24.16 487 has pulled up behind 463.jpg (100.61 KiB) Viewed 2777 times

487 is now at the pit getting its fire cleaned as 463 has moved down to the tank for water.

9.24.16 463 backs down the main as it heads to the coal dock.jpg (109.86 KiB) Viewed 2773 times

9.24.16 463 now pulls into the coal dock lead as 487 is still at the pit.jpg (105.88 KiB) Viewed 2773 times

9.24.16 463 is having coal added to its bunker.jpg (92.71 KiB) Viewed 2773 times

9.24.16 487 has now moved to the tank as 463 still is at the coal dock.jpg (96.17 KiB) Viewed 2773 times

Anyone listening a minute ago was treated to the full might of the 463's whistle when the hostler blew a very long blast for a visitor.

9.24.16 487 is now backing down the main as it heads to the coal dock.jpg (121.46 KiB) Viewed 2765 times

9.24.16 487 now pulls ahead into the coal dock lead.jpg (121.87 KiB) Viewed 2765 times

The 487 has coal added to its bunker as 463 waits for its road crew to arrive.

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations continued:

9.24.16 The bus to Antonito is cresting Cumbres_.jpg (121.33 KiB) Viewed 2763 times

9.24.16 487 has moved to a holding position as 463 comes forward to go into south yard.jpg (125.19 KiB) Viewed 2763 times

463 is bringing 2 coaches out of south yard but until it gets to the train will not know if both will stay on since the one closest to 463 is one of the movie painted coaches.

9.24.16 463 comes out of south yard with 2 coaches.jpg (77.09 KiB) Viewed 2763 times

9.24.16 463 has backed onto the train with the 2 extra coaches.jpg (74.45 KiB) Viewed 2762 times

9.24.16 463 has pulled away to go back into south yard.jpg (119.66 KiB) Viewed 2761 times

9.24.16 463 comes back out of south yard with the RPO and the other movie painted coach.jpg (81.37 KiB) Viewed 2754 times

9.24.16 After attaching the second green coach to the train 463 comes back with the RPO to take it to south yard again.jpg (126 KiB) Viewed 2754 times

9.24.16 463 has now coupled onto the 10 car 216.jpg (91.43 KiB) Viewed 2750 times

[Larry Sullivan]

The whistle blow of 463 Sharon mentioned above.

[Tom Casper]

thanks Larry
Tom C.

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: 463 road locomotive, 487 helper to Cumbres summit and 10 coaches and a caboose for 11 cars total
Will be interesting to see if one of the green coaches comes back this afternoon on 215 as a flip coach.
Look at how crowded the depot area

9.24.16 The 11 car 216 has now moved into loading position with the chartered caboose on the rear.jpg (94.72 KiB) Viewed 2748 times

9.24.16 487 has now coupled onto 216 as helper.jpg (122.37 KiB) Viewed 2748 times

is this morning.

9.24.16 Hard to see but the conductor is giving the hi ball.jpg (91.68 KiB) Viewed 2734 times

9.24.16 The conductor is climbing onto the caboose as the train starts to move.jpg (91.65 KiB) Viewed 2734 times

9.24.16 487 and 463 are working hard to get this 11 car train moving.jpg (131.77 KiB) Viewed 2734 times

9.24.16 Nice steam in this cold air as the train passes the wood shop.jpg (122.91 KiB) Viewed 2734 times

WE see the length of the train as it passes the tipple.

9.24.16 The caboose is by the tipple and someone seems to by in the capolla.jpg (109.28 KiB) Viewed 2734 times

9.24.16 After a brief stop at the end of the yard, the train is moving again.jpg (108.41 KiB) Viewed 2734 times

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: 489 with 14 cars, one of the green coaches coming back from Osier, 3 extra flat topped coaches, regular 7 car consist, open gon and 2 cabeese. The last caboose was on 216 this morning so it also flipped at Osier. This means 215 came out of Antonito with 12 cars.

215 is at Cumbres about 30 minutes late and from the grab not sure of the consist. Almost looks like we are seeing an open gon and caboose.

9.24.16 215 at Cumbres.jpg (122.57 KiB) Viewed 2702 times

OK folks, when was the last time we had a 14 car 215?

9.24.16 489 brings a monster 14 car 215 into Chama.jpg (109.95 KiB) Viewed 2679 times

The first tipple shot shows the train with the regular open gon.

This second tipple shot shows the second open gon with the platform of the Colorado just in the frame of the north cam.

9.24.16 We see the open gon and 2 cabeese on the rear of today's 215.jpg (115.6 KiB) Viewed 2679 times

9.24.16 The train was so long that as the last caboose passed the wood shop the 489 was by the depot.jpg (105.81 KiB) Viewed 2679 times

[Larry Gibson]

Late but long 215 today. 4:53 arrival. 489 on the point and a double caboose end! Word is over 400 riders on RR today!!

[Sharon Evans]

Larry G.'s shots of the extra coaches show how full that 14 car train was and also how many people rode the Chama - Osier - Chama turn. This is great for the railroad to have this kind of turn out for leaf season. They have run 3 double headers out of Chama since Wednesday and both Wednesday and Thursday were 10 cars and today was 11. Coming west today 215 left Antonito with 12 cars and picked up 2 at Osier to bring back.

[John Hamman]

Late but long 215 today. 4:53 arrival. 489 on the point and a double caboose end! Word is over 400 riders on RR today!!

Over 400 riders? 14 car 215? what a great day for the C & T !!

[Larry Sullivan]

Here's today's video -

Train 216 Doubleheader with 10 car consist, plus caboose on the rear.



Train 215 arrives, 14 car consist including 2 open gondola, and 2 caboose. Over 400 riders today, great day for the railroad!