9/20/17 Wednesday - last school day & double headed 216

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations: the students are out very early

9-20-17 463 is getting water for its day.jpg (101.15 KiB) Viewed 3623 times

9-20-17 463 is backing toward the lead that heads to the coal dock.jpg (96.88 KiB) Viewed 3619 times

9-20-17 463 pulls by the wood shop as it heads for coal.jpg (112.2 KiB) Viewed 3619 times

9-20-17 The hostler in the cab is adding coal to the fire.jpg (131.63 KiB) Viewed 3617 times

9-20-17 The hostler that was in the cab is now on the ground as the other adds coal to the bunker.jpg (126.6 KiB) Viewed 3617 times

9-20-17 The hostler are headed into south yard where they will leave the 463 for the students.jpg (157.12 KiB) Viewed 3616 times

9-20-17 The 489 makes its move away from the house.jpg (190.6 KiB) Viewed 3605 times

9-20-17 The 489 comes over the pit for a cleaning.jpg (175.02 KiB) Viewed 3605 times

The second K36, 487, in Chama has moved up on the east house track, so maybe.

487

9-20-17 The second locomotive is seen behind the 489.jpg (169.44 KiB) Viewed 3605 times

9-20-17 The 487 is now at the pit to get ready.jpg (178.39 KiB) Viewed 3603 times

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations continued: Right now there are 9 cars sitting at the depot, if all used, we should have a double header today.
Departure of the Advanced Student train: 463 and 8 cars including the caboose:

9-20-17 The Advanced Student train gets underway.jpg (212.27 KiB) Viewed 3561 times

9-20-17 The Advanced Student train comes by the wood shop and has the same consist as the last 2 days.jpg (209.74 KiB) Viewed 3561 times

The Advanced Student train comes by the tipple and 2 of the students are in the open gon

9-20-17 The Advanced Student train is clearing north yard as 489 waits to get on the main and 487 is taking water.jpg (218.75 KiB) Viewed 3561 times

9-20-17 The Advanced Student train is rounding the curve north of the yard.jpg (214.75 KiB) Viewed 3561 times

With the Advanced Student train gone, morning preparations continue:

9-20-17 The 487 backs down the main first ahead of the 489.jpg (212.53 KiB) Viewed 3560 times

The 487 is pulling into the lead to the coal dock as 489 now backs down

9-20-17 The 487 has coal added to its bunker as 489 waits its turn on the main.jpg (183.33 KiB) Viewed 3560 times

9-20-17 The 489 now gets its bunker filled.jpg (199.37 KiB) Viewed 3560 times

9-20-17 The 9 car train 216 has moved into loading position.jpg (230.04 KiB) Viewed 3560 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: 489 in the helper position and 487 as road locomotive and 9 cars. The 487 came back so they had to switch the locomotives at Cumbres so 489 continued on as road locomotive.

9-20-17 The 489 and 487 get their 9 car train underway.jpg (204.57 KiB) Viewed 3553 times

9-20-17 The 489 and 487 work to get the train up to speed.jpg (235 KiB) Viewed 3553 times

9-20-17 Nice shot of the 2 K36's as they work.jpg (200.21 KiB) Viewed 3553 times

The train is by the tipple

9-20-17 The parlor Colorado is on the markers.jpg (212.74 KiB) Viewed 3552 times

9-20-17 The parlor is passing the tanks as the locomotives clear the yard.jpg (210.75 KiB) Viewed 3552 times

9-20-17 The parlor is rounding the curve north of the yard.jpg (221.74 KiB) Viewed 3552 times

The train today was almost full with the 9 cars.

9-20-17 The 487 returns to Chama after working the 216 up to Cumbres.jpg (200.93 KiB) Viewed 3551 times

[Sharon Evans]

9-20-17 The 215 is at Cumbres and by the parlor position it is 9 cars.jpg (197.4 KiB) Viewed 3543 times

Arrival of Advanced Student train: 463 and 8 cars

9-20-17 The 463 comes back into Chama with the Advanced Student train.jpg (181.14 KiB) Viewed 3537 times

9-20-17 The 463 comes up to the tipple with the 8 car train.jpg (183.36 KiB) Viewed 3537 times

By the tipple and we can see the consist is the same as it has been since Monday

9-20-17 The train is passing the wood shop as it heads to the wye.jpg (213.88 KiB) Viewed 3537 times

9-20-17 The train is passing the depot.jpg (164.01 KiB) Viewed 3537 times

9-20-17 One of the students is hanging on the caboose platform.jpg (163.6 KiB) Viewed 3537 times

9-20-17 The caboose passes by the depot as the Advanced Student train returns from the wye.jpg (174.04 KiB) Viewed 3530 times

9-20-17 The 463 is shoving the consist back into south yard.jpg (213.92 KiB) Viewed 3530 times

9-20-17 The train has stopped, their experience is just about over.jpg (167.33 KiB) Viewed 3530 times

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: 488 and 9 cars

9-20-17 The 488's headlight shines from the glome of the trees.jpg (180.57 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

9-20-17 The 488 brings its 9 car train into Chama.jpg (182.64 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

9-20-17 The 488 comes up to the tipple.jpg (181.12 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

The long train is passing the tipple

9-20-17 The parlor New Mexico is on the markers this afternoon.jpg (211.72 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

9-20-17 The 488 passes the waiting cleaning crew.jpg (166.21 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

I think this is Ray, but not totally sure.

9-20-17 The conductor is signaling for the stop.jpg (166.45 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

9-20-17 The conductor is walking back to ensure that the passengers are safe getting off.jpg (167.13 KiB) Viewed 3527 times

[Jim Reynolds]

I am on the ground in Chama and in the Advanced School (again). Schedule for tomorrow is two 10 car trains from both directions and a double header out of Chama. Today had 226 passengers from Antonito and 180 or so from Chama. Tomorrow around 225 from Chama and 180 or so from Antonito. The railroad only has 20 total coaches so this will be using all of them. They are a little crippled with 484 being temporarily out of service. 487 had an overnight boiler wash Tuesday and thanks to the excellent shop crew was available for the double header today. It now has a couple of issues that might keep if from use tomorrow. If so, they will use the 463 (still lettered RGS 455) as the road engine tomorrow. We shall see. The 463 is a fun engine to run but is much more sensitive to getting the fire right - takes a learning curve. But then, the firebox is shorter, so easier to get the coal to the front.

[Sharon Evans]

Thanks for the update Jim. On 487, are they still trying to get that cylinder cock to work right?

[Jim Reynolds]

I think they have fixed the cylinder cock, but there are a couple of other "issues" they are looking at, but I am not sure of the nature of these. If they are fixed they will use 487 on the double header today