12-17-16 Santa Saturday

[Mike Maguire]

More snow has fallen overnight, and #489 is being stoked for the day's work ahead ...

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[Mike Maguire]

West stall door is open ..,

...and closed again as snow blows across the yard ...

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[Mike Maguire]

it's definitely winter as the cams change to colour ...

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[Mike Maguire]

#489 is out & having its fire cleaned ...

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[Mike Maguire]

#489 heads for the main through a desolate landscape ...

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[Mike Maguire]

... and backs down to the train ...

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[Mike Maguire]

As the rising sun tints the snow pink, #489 suddenly heads off north ...

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[Larry Gibson]

Our Conductor Ray is on the scene now...

[Mike Maguire]

Interesting light ...

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[Mike Maguire]

Hi ho ....

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[Dave Megeath]

Suspicious character on the south end of the Chama station - ho ho ho.

Keep him away from the coal dock! We have no need for lumps of coal.

Merry Christmas all.

[Mike Maguire]

#489 is back from its travels - plenty of snow on the plow ...

... and goes to the coal dock ...

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[Sharon Evans]

With all the snow last night, no wonder they blazed a trail out to Labato.

[Mike Maguire]

#489 backs down to the train ...

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[Larry Gibson]

Christmas Card Scenes at the depot!

[Jason Rose]

Aww man... they've got Mrs Clause shoveling snow!!

[Mike Maguire]

Train pulled forward ...

... and the snow starts again ...

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[Larry Gibson]

First run in ten minutes!

[Larry Gibson]

First run cleared yard abou 10:15. No open gon for Santa this year!

[Mike Maguire]

It's away ...

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[Larry Sullivan]

These only run about 40 seconds each, I'll do full video later on - but for those that missed the departure live. Great to see a train running again!

[Sharon Evans]

This weather is so appropriate for a Christmas train.

[Rich Murray]

The images today are right out of Hollywood!
Never mind! Hollywood would have a hard time faking this.
Watching the kids is almost mesmerizing.
It would be cool if the ABQ TV stations were picking up the live feed!

[Sharon Evans]

What I liked was Santa standing on the rear platform as the train backed into Chama.

Weather for tomorrow is sunny and cold so we will get a different aspect of the rides.

[Sharon Evans]

A crew has gone down to the tank and is working on it. Wonder if the valves are frozen shut. They are using the bucket to push the main line side spout up after they pulled it down.

[Mike Maguire]

A crew has gone down to the tank and is working on it. Wonder if the valves are frozen shut.

They've got the spout pulled down - maybe choked with ice ...

I've not seen #489 take water since it came out yesterday ...

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[Sharon Evans]

They could have easily filled the tank overnight from hoses in the house, but surely is getting low on water by now.

[Rich Murray]

I'd be guessing that the tank is normally drained for the winter. But what do I know?

[Sharon Evans]

I'd be guessing that the tank is normally drained for the winter. But what do I know?

Taking water now, they might drain it after the Christmas trains but doubt it. If its close to full the volume would keep most of it liquid.

[Mike Maguire]

Elf in the Doghouse, and a water stop ...

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[Larry Gibson]

The 1:00 run used the mainline spout for refilling the tender. Stop took less than ten minutes and then extra headed east.

[Mike Maguire]

Santa brings the special back ...

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[Larry Gibson]

2:40 run is out on main.

[Larry Gibson]

Santa and Mrs Claus board, Conductor Ray swings up, and the 4:00 run departs.

[Larry Gibson]

489 puts the coaches in the cleaning position and heads for the ashpit arriving at 5:09.

[Larry Gibson]

Then it's into the enginehouse at 5:16 completing Saturday's train action.