9/22/18 Saturday double header and 315

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations: I would not be surprised to see 315/425 leave this morning with the RPO and coach. It is on the south side of the house and hot.

2018-09-22 The 463 comes out from the house.jpg (109.43 KiB) Viewed 5017 times

2018-09-22 After allowing another locomotive to move, the 463 is at the pit.jpg (95.98 KiB) Viewed 5015 times

2018-09-22 The 315 has come out and is behind the 463.jpg (98.29 KiB) Viewed 5015 times

2018-09-22 The 463 has now back into the clear by the roundhouse to let the 315 at the pit first.jpg (100.12 KiB) Viewed 5013 times

The 463 is now at the pit while 315 takes on water

2018-09-22 The 315-425 back toward the coal dock lead.jpg (101.14 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

2018-09-22 The 315-425 is taking on coal as the 463 gets water.jpg (99.51 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

2018-09-22 The 315-425 has backed onto its train as 463 heads to the coal dock and 484 is at the pit.jpg (108 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

2018-09-22 The 463 is getting coal added as 484 is at the tank.jpg (99.29 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

2018-09-22 The 463 has backed into the clear as 484 heads to get coal.jpg (113.05 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216: Eleven cars on the passenger portion behind 463 and 5 freight cars between it and 484 so a 16 car train today. Would love to see and hear this train climbing up the 4%.

2018-09-22 Look at the crowd of people waiting to board 216, as 484 is in south yard.jpg (118.02 KiB) Viewed 4985 times

2018-09-22 The 484 has come out with 5 freight cars to add to the train.jpg (117.96 KiB) Viewed 4985 times

The train is now in loading position and is so long the 484 is almost in the tipple shadow

2018-09-22 The train is so long that not only has the conductor raised his arm but is also using his radio to alert the locomotives.jpg (99.12 KiB) Viewed 4978 times

The conductor has boarded the parlor but the trainman is still on the ground and will swing aboard as the first coach passes

The 484 has emerged from behind the tipple as the 463 approaches it. Look as the viewer numbers

The 484 is now blowing for the running brake test

2018-09-22 The 484 is into the curve as the parlor Colorado has just passed the tipple.jpg (108.69 KiB) Viewed 4977 times

2018-09-22 The parlor is by the tank as the head end of the train disappears around the curve.jpg (106.09 KiB) Viewed 4977 times

2018-09-22 The last cars are into the curve as this long train heads east.jpg (107.93 KiB) Viewed 4977 times

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[Sharon Evans]

Departure of the 315 and its train: It is out of order but forgot to put it after the prep and before the departure of 216

2018-09-22 The 315 gets its 2 car train underway.jpg (116.32 KiB) Viewed 4942 times

2018-09-22 The 315 comes up to the shade tree.jpg (111.86 KiB) Viewed 4942 times

2018-09-22 The 315 comes past the woodshop at a walking pase.jpg (112.32 KiB) Viewed 4942 times

2018-09-22 The 315 emerges from the tipple shadow showing its new guise as DRG 425.jpg (104.69 KiB) Viewed 4942 times

2018-09-22 The coach is almost full.jpg (109.58 KiB) Viewed 4942 times

2018-09-22 The train is headed through north yard.jpg (103.56 KiB) Viewed 4942 times

2018-09-22 The train is headed into the curve as it heads east.jpg (106.52 KiB) Viewed 4942 times

[Pete Dahlberg]

We've had a couple of double headers lately involving mixed trains. Are the "freight" cars coming back or going over to Antonito?

[Sharon Evans]

Pete, I wish I knew. I can't start processing what I have left to do until 484 gets back from Cumbres.

[Sharon Evans]

2018-09-22 The 484 is back from helper duty and no box cars.jpg (109.06 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

2018-09-22 ...and headed straight to the wye without stopping at the depot.jpg (106.21 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

So one has to wonder, did 463 take that 16 car train down to Antonito?

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: 13 cars today, 11 on the regular train with an added open gon and caboose.

That looks like the open gon to the left of the tree, which would make it 10 cars long or longer.

2018-09-22 Train 215 has arrived at Cumbres Pass.jpg (126.43 KiB) Viewed 4937 times

2018-09-22 The headlight of 487 shines from the shadows as it brings a 13 car train 215 into Chama.jpg (111.32 KiB) Viewed 4912 times

2018-09-22 The 487 is up to the tank as the last of the train is still in shadow.jpg (110.79 KiB) Viewed 4912 times

2018-09-22 The 487 is at the tipple and the caboose is just now seen.jpg (108.9 KiB) Viewed 4912 times

As the train passes the tipple we can see all 4 extra coaches in the south cam

In this overall shot we can see the second open gon as well as the 487 approaching in the depot cam

The second open gon and caboose as seen passing the woodshop as the 487 passes the depot

2018-09-22 The 487 passes one of the cleaners as it slows.jpg (101.06 KiB) Viewed 4912 times

2018-09-22 The train is stopped as we see the conductor putting down the step box at that coach.jpg (104.9 KiB) Viewed 4912 times

2018-09-22 Ride over, we see some of the passengers exiting the train.jpg (106.04 KiB) Viewed 4912 times

[John Hamman]

We've had a couple of double headers lately involving mixed trains. Are the "freight" cars coming back or going over to Antonito?

Pete,
I have wondering the same thing I think - why are they moving so many cars over to Antonito? I know they added a storage track along the highway - but it seems like a lot of cars for them to handle. Appreciate any comments from folks who know more. Thanks!
John

[Pete Dahlberg]

John
Based upon the return of 484 I'm guessing today's cars are staged at Cumbres. I'd have to look at the earlier run to see if it also was a quick return for the helper.
Pete

Update: Earlier mixed freight (9/19/2018) was 4 freight cars, 2 rider gons and 2 "boxcars". Based on Roger's flyby video the R/Ns of the boxes are 3537 and 3244. 487 (the helper) was back at approximately then normal time for regular helper duty so it probably dropped the cars at Cumbres.

In Roger's video of the "historic" train with 315/425, he mentioned that it had picked up 4 cars at Cumbres. 4 of the 5 box cars on today's mixed appeared to have a relatively new coat of paint.

Pete

[Sharon Evans]

John
Based upon the return of 484 I'm guessing today's cars are staged at Cumbres. I'd have to look at the earlier run to see if it also was a quick return for the helper.
Pete

Actually Pete, today was slower then normal on the helper getting back. Its usually around 1330. That is what make me think all 16 cars went east from Chumbres. Am looking at the Antonito cam and as of the 1549 grab its not there yet. Pete I was thinking it picked up the 4 cars which went up earlier in the week. Remember the 315 got to Cumbres ahead of the 216 and I don't think it waited up there. I am watching an Antonito cam that is frozen, it has not updated since 1549 and its 1730 MDT now.

At the end of the day after some switching there is a 9 car plus caboose staged for Sunday so probably a double header again.