10-23-16 Closing day 2016

[Larry Sullivan]

The final day of the season is here, soon the yard will be quiet and winter will take over.

For now, there seems to be some early activity as a locomotive headlight is on at 6am - we'll see if anything moves, or perhaps just checking something out. We should have a 7 car train to end the season.

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489 is the locomotive moving, they did not stop at the ash pit and are now past the water tank -- without getting water -- unusual happenings.

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And 489 has now departed. They did take on coal yesterday before their short trip, so should be good on coal - perhaps they didn't use much water yesterday as they basically sat in the yard all day. If anyone knows what they are up to, the curious want to know!!

[Larry Gibson]

First light over the yard on the last day:

[Larry Sullivan]

487 up to the ash pit as preparations for today's final 216 begin.

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487 now down to get a drink .

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487 now at the coal dock

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487 now ready for today's trip, as the fire patrol speeder heads for the wye to turn.

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[Larry Gibson]

Cool morning air makes for some great steam action at the pit.

[Larry Gibson]

In the morning shadows 487 goes up to the tank.

[Larry Gibson]

Smoke from 487 drifs over the platform area as riders arrive on the last operating day.

[Larry Gibson]

At 9:07 coaches are pulled up to the loading position.

[Larry Sullivan]

489 has returned from wherever they went this morning.

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[Larry Gibson]

Here we see an example of the special people who man these trains! Conductor Ray helps a disabled person to board the train in these captures. Making visitors welcome to the RR is what they do!!

[Larry Gibson]

Looks like the ashpit gets extinguished before heading down to the switch to await departure.

[Larry Gibson]

A short time later the bucket loader comes and removes ashes from the pit creating a cloud of ash and smoke.

[Larry Gibson]

Conductor Ray gives the highball and the final 216 is out on the line after stopping briefly at the tipple. In Antonitio the final 215 is ready.

[Jonathan Cordova]

215 at cumbres pass 463 and caboose 7

[Sharon Evans]

I still wonder who the person is in the white, 4 door jeep that shows up most every day to watch 216 leave.

Didn't 487 over winter in Antonito last year too? I seem to remember it on the flanger special.

[Sharon Evans]

So that is it for the season, a 9 car 215 with one of the green coaches and the caboose as additions to the normal consist. Surprised that they sent one of the green coaches back and not the flat roofed one since it will have to go back on the hospital train to have the Antonito shop repaint it.

[Larry Sullivan]

463 brings in the final 215 of the season.

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[Larry Gibson]

463 does the honor to bring in the last 215 of 2016. Rider gon is SRO in the bright sun! It appears the last 216 has reached Antonito.

Jason!!! PLEASE Start the countdown clock to 2017!!!

[Larry Sullivan]

Didn't 487 over winter in Antonito last year too? I seem to remember it on the flanger special.

I believe you are correct, as I seem to remember it on the Christmas train over there and the flanger special.

[Farol Henkle]

So glad to see our mutual sister Mudhen #463, a/k/a "Squeeky", bring home the final run! Now, Larry Gibson, you'll have to make plans to visit Huckleberry Crossroads Village for Halloween & Christmas runs of #464. To all.....a Great Job to end a wonderful season! Cheers!

[Larry Gibson]

So glad to see our mutual sister Mudhen #463, a/k/a "Squeeky", bring home the final run! Now, Larry Gibson, you'll have to make plans to visit Huckleberry Crossroads Village for Halloween & Christmas runs of #464. To all.....a Great Job to end a wonderful season! Cheers!

Yes, we hope to do a 464 and 1225 turn on the same day during the holidays if not before. If you time it out it's possible!

[Melanie Neale]

Thank you all for posting these pictures, you feel like a family. I am not sure what we are going to do as the season has closed. Await for the first snow and then the first sign of steam for the new season......thanks again

[Larry Sullivan]

Thank you all for posting these pictures, you feel like a family. I am not sure what we are going to do as the season has closed. Await for the first snow and then the first sign of steam for the new season......thanks again

You're very welcome!

We should see some activity for the next week or two as they move things around the yard, and get ready for the hospital train that usually leaves in a week or two. They may be doing some track maintenance or other things, so don't totally give up watching just yet! I'll still be recording for video daily until at least the hospital train leaves, and will have the daily review video.

We'll also be around all winter to post that which we see happening! I'll have my end of season message a little later when I post my videos.

[Larry Sullivan]

Here's today's video -

Train 216 departs, with 487 leading for the final time this season. A short stop for 45 seconds or so while the engineer looked at the right front of the locomotive, then on they went up the hill.



463 brings in train 215, note the deer over by the bunkhouse as the video starts, then once the train comes closer they run away with another two following. Seems lots of deer around this fall for sure!

[Larry Sullivan]

148 days ago the season began on May 28, and now we are at the end of the 2016 train season. Seems to always come too fast, but now we have to find something else to do until next May 27 when the 2017 season will open.

Congratulations to all those that help this railroad run every day, I don't believe we missed any trains this year due to anything mechanical, which is a testament to all those that put their hard work into maintaining these 4 locomotives on a daily basis. It seemed we had way more double-headers this year than in the past too, which must add to the work load. Job well done by all!!! Of course not forgetting the train crews, and the depot workers, and train cleaners that keep everything going daily as well. Fantastic job!

Of course my usual thanks to the Friends for having these cameras, and to the technical team that did such a great job with the system build last year -- I don't think we had many issues at all with the cams the entire season, few glitches and short down times, but really very rare for any issues.

As to the daily operations from the standpoint of our coverage, I have to especially thank Sharon Evans for her dedication on a daily basis to sit and report on the happenings in the yard. For me the video is fairly simple, let the computer do most of the work and I can do editing as I can, but the almost real time captures is sitting there and paying attention to everything. Thanks Sharon -- great job this year!!!

A huge thank you also to all others that contributed to the coverage, Larry Gibson for one -- always appreciate your input and insight into the railroad you enjoy so much! I know I'm forgetting names, but you know who you are -- so thank you to all others that post and contribute to this forum -- not only in the webcams, but the pictures and videos we get to see all the time. Roger Hogan I hope you get that DVD done sometime this winter -- I think we'll all be in line to purchase one!!

So with that the 2016 season is over, I'll be working over the next few weeks to update the archives and maybe even do a few highlight type videos from the season. Daily recordings will continue at least until after the hospital trains, so hopefully I can show all that happens as the yard is buttoned up for the winter.

[Jason Rose]

Jason!!! PLEASE Start the countdown clock to 2017!!!

It's done, Larry. But... it's not a happy number right now.

[Jason Rose]

My deepest thanks to Larry Sullivan and Sharon Evans for the daily documentation. Not only has it been of interest to me (because I don't have the free time I once had and rarely watch the cams), but future railroad historians will certainly be referencing this treasure trove of media and reports.

Thanks also to Larry Gibson and everyone else that reported and posted pictures of what was happening.