8/20/17 Sunday in Chama

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations:

8-20-17 488 moves out from the house to the pit to start the day.jpg (174.97 KiB) Viewed 2839 times

8-20-17 488 is at the tank taking on water.jpg (163.1 KiB) Viewed 2839 times

8-20-17 488 is backing down the main as it moves to the coal dock, and say good morning to Frank.jpg (165.78 KiB) Viewed 2828 times

Not sure what is going on, but Tracy, I think, boarded the 488 when it go to the switch then both hostlers got off and walked over to the house.

8-20-17 The 488 is putting out good smoke as it sits just past the lead switch to the coal dock.jpg (188.85 KiB) Viewed 2828 times

Looking at the shot of it backing down, the 488's coal bunker is full so did not need coal this morning. It is backing onto the train.

8-20-17 The train is now in loading position.jpg (194.42 KiB) Viewed 2825 times

8-20-17 Loading position from the depot cam.jpg (137.62 KiB) Viewed 2825 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: 488 and 7 cars

8-20-17 After giving the high ball the conductor, Ray I think, climbs aboard the parlor.jpg (139.04 KiB) Viewed 2814 times

8-20-17 The 488 gets the train moving as it passes the open Friend's wood shop.jpg (200.77 KiB) Viewed 2813 times

8-20-17 The 488 is putting out some thick, gray smoke as it comes up to the tipple.jpg (191.24 KiB) Viewed 2813 times

Just as it clears the tipple, the 488 blows for the running brake test.

8-20-17 Frank gives us a wave from the cafe car.jpg (145.92 KiB) Viewed 2813 times

8-20-17 Parlor Colorado is on the markers this morning.jpg (160.13 KiB) Viewed 2813 times

8-20-17 The train is clearing north yard somewhere in that paule of smoke.jpg (107.02 KiB) Viewed 2813 times

8-20-17 The parlor is somewhere up there just going around the curve.jpg (127.93 KiB) Viewed 2813 times

[Frank Smith]

Good morning Sharon & Friends & guests. We have a tender on the ground over at Antonio. They parked at the ash pit and the engine rolled back. Fortunately we had another tender so all is well.
I was born in a section house in Ancho NM on the old SP. I was raised in 6 different section houses. My maternal grandfather was a car inspector, and my paternal grandfather was a boilermaker at the El Paso shops. My Aunt Marge was Depot Operator. I worked on the signal gang for four summers after I graduated High School. In the 40s & 50s when I was growing up They ran all steam, so steam trains are in my blood. Even as a child I wondered what it would be like to ride the train every day. Here 70 years later I am finding out.
Gotta go. Gotta train to ride

[Sharon Evans]

That is going to look interesting this afternoon with 484's tender, if that is the one they use since when I saw it in late July it was facing the wrong way, coming over on 487. Thanks for the nice "who I am" piece Frank, no wonder you love this so much.

[Sharon Evans]

8-20-17 215 is coming into Cumbres with the parlor still crossing route 17.jpg (163.6 KiB) Viewed 2779 times

Arrival of train 215: 487-4 and 7 cars ( they are using 484's tender). Seems they swapped out 2 of the coaches.

8-20-17 487 brings the 9 car train 215 into Chama 1.3 hours late as Frank walks down to greet the train.jpg (205.51 KiB) Viewed 2697 times

8-20-17 487 with the 484 tender comes up to the tipple.jpg (198.16 KiB) Viewed 2696 times

With no passengers on the train Ray and his trainman enjoy the ride in the open gon.

8-20-17 Parlor New Mexico is on the markers of the dead head train 215.jpg (216.4 KiB) Viewed 2696 times

8-20-17 The 487 passes the depot as the train heads straight to the wye without stopping.jpg (221.95 KiB) Viewed 2696 times

[Frank Smith]

We all got off at second crossing. Brakes again. They are bringing the train on down. I hope they make it before dark . 487 front marking & 484rear does look funny to us rail fans, but I hope we can see them from the cam angles.

[Frank Smith]

We had two Amtrak engineers riding today, so that's at least 2 riders that are used to being late.

[Sharon Evans]

We all got off at second crossing. Brakes again. They are bringing the train on down. I hope they make it before dark . 487 front marking & 484rear does look funny to us rail fans, but I hope we can see them from the cam angles.

I saw a bus headed east about 4:30 I believe and wondered if they were going to bustute again.

[Steve Ritchie]

Frank , Jason Rose was looking for information for a book he was writing about the duties of a car inspector at Cumbers. You might contact him, I'm sure he would appreciate any information you may have on the subject. Steve R.

[Jason Rose]

Indeed, I would be very interested in the duties of a Car Inspector, as well as details on what life was like along the railroad. The time period I'm writing about is 1900 and the location is, of course, Cumbres Pass. But info from any era and location is appreciated.