2-11-2013 ~ 5:15 Chama

[Rich Murray]

This morning one of the hardy shop crew was out before 5:15 plowing the fresh snow.

[robertmroman]

More than just one. Shortly after you posted that, a second machine appeared, the back hoe. I was impressed. Now the two tractors are engaged in what looks to be an heroic effort to move the locomotive parked outside the engine house toward the structure. I was wondering why there had been two people attacking it with brooms earlier. And last week they had moved it 60 to 70 feet inward. I figured they wanted to avoid having it sink into the mud, but right now it looks like they mean to eventually move it indoors.
be well,
bob roman

[Edwin Frey]

Stuck! It looks like, at least for now, #489 refuses to be moved. Earlier this morning, the bucket loader and backhoe cleared the engine house leads, and then four members of the shop crew worked mightily to get the engine moved. They shoveled, torched, and cleared the snow from all around it. Even with both machines pulling, it refused to budge. At one point the bucket loader was doing a wheelie trying to get it unstuck. As of 11:30, everyone has gone back inside and to add insult to injury, it's snowing again like crazy. A touch of what things were like in the "good old days"?

[John Cole]

489 is INSIDE the enbine house getting it's running gear rebuilt. The 488 is the engine OUTSIDE in the camera view and must be a stuck one you are watching.

[robertmroman]

Well, they're making another attempt at moving "488" today, using two tractors. And not having much luck at it, it seems. It's hard for me to imagine that it should be so difficult unless the brakes are stuck on. Or maybe it's like trying to move an auto that's in gear: You won't get too far unless you remove the spark plugs. It'd be interesting to learn what the issue is, but whatever the case, I hope they get it moving without much collateral damage.
be well,
bob roman

[robertmroman]

Success!

[Edwin Frey]

About 2:00, they finally broke her loose and pushed her into the engine house.