Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Discussions regarding the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Sat Aug 05, 2017 10:07 am

Over the next week or so I will be posting my photographs and links to videos taken during the recent trip to Chama for work session E. I allowed myself 3 days at each end to chase and ride. I will post the photographs in the order they were taken, while the videos will follow a specific train no mater which day it is.
Last edited by Sharon Evans on Sat Aug 05, 2017 1:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Fred L. Kuhns » Sat Aug 05, 2017 10:16 am

Sharon, Thanks for all the updates during your stay in Chama. Looking forward to any addition pictures and videos. Fred L. Kuhns
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Sat Aug 05, 2017 12:33 pm

Fred L. Kuhns wrote:Sharon, Thanks for all the updates during your stay in Chama. Looking forward to any addition pictures and videos. Fred L. Kuhns


Most welcome Fred.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Sat Aug 05, 2017 1:21 pm

Lets begin at the start of my stay, Friday afternoon 7/21/17. I had just gotten into Chama and unloaded my luggage at the Parlor Car B&B and rushed up the hill to catch 215. As I passed Cumbres and rounded the curve on 17, I could see the headlight so went quickly back to Cumbres and set up for the arrival there. Then chased it back into Chama.
1 K36 487 brings train 215 into Cumbres.jpg
K36 487 brings train 215 into Cumbres as it crosses 17 at 4th crossing.

2 Train 215 comes by the section house.jpg
Train 215 comes by the recently completed section house

3 K35 487 comes up to the water plug.jpg
487 comes up to the water plug to fill its tank for the run down the 4% into Chama

4 Engineer Jeff Stebbins in maning the water spout as 487 gets its tender filled.jpg
Engineer Jeff Stebbins is up on the tender manning the water spout.

5 Train 215 comes over 3d crossing of Rt 17.jpg
Train 215 comes over 3d crossing of Rt. 17

6 Jeff Stebbins still has his left hand on the whistle cord as he finishes the crossing signal.jpg
Jeff still has his left hand on the whistle cord as 487 comes over the road

7 Parlor New Mexico brings up the markers on train 215.jpg
Parlor New Mexico has the markers this day as the trainman is on his radio and several passengers enjoy the ride

8 Train 215 comes by the water tank as it enters Chama yard.jpg
Train 215 comes by the water tank as it enters Chama yard

9 Mr. Stebbins is intent on where he is going.jpg
Mr. Stebbins seems intent on bringing the train home
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:30 am

Saturday 7/22/17, my first full day in Chama, started off sunny with broken clouds, but clouded over as the train progressed towards Cumbres. This day also brought a double headed with K27 463 as road locomotive and newly re-built 488 as helper. The train was only 7 cars, but this year they have been doing double headers to get 463 over to Antonito so it can do a round trip. They have been mostly on weekends. This group of shots starts in Chama yard and ends up at Cumbres pass.
1 K27 463 waits on its road crew.jpg
The hostlers have finished with 463 and it waits the road crew to board

2 C18 315 is on display in Chama, NM until its next runs.jpg
C18 315 is currently on display in Chama until its next run. I believe it will remain in Chama through the upcoming winter again.

3 Tender views of C18 315 and K27 463.jpg
In this shot, we see the view of 315 and 463 from the tender end.

4 Chama, NM depot.jpg
A place all C&TS fans want to be, Chama depot.

5 K36 488 backs down the main, it will be the helper locomotive on this day's train 216.jpg
As 463 waits, 488 backs down to get to the coal dock.

6 K27 463 is pulling the consist of train 216 forward into loading position with C18 315 in background.jpg
The 463 is pulling the consist of train 216 forward into loading position and passes 315.

7 K27 463 sits beside C18 315.jpg
With the train in loading position, the 463 and 315 sit boiler to boiler.

8 Road crewmember Tracy directs K36 488 as it backs down to couple onto train 216.jpg
Road crewmember Tracy guides the 488 as it backs down to the train.

9 Join made, Tracy walks back to the 463 to get ready to depart.jpg
Join made, Tracy walks back to the 463 to continue getting ready for departure.

10 K36 488 and K27 463 are waiting for the highball to be given.jpg
The 488 and 463 now sit quietly waiting for departure time.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:41 am

Having departed almost on time, we pick up the train as it crossed the Chama River bridge and passes Jukes tree.
11 K36 488 leads the double headed train 216 over the Chama River bridge as it approched Jute's tree.jpg
488 leads the train over the bridge.

12 The double headed train 216 passes Jute's tree as it leaves Chama.jpg
The double header comes by Jukes tree.

13 Both locomotives are smoking it up as the pass Jute's tree.jpg
both locomotives are smoking it up as they pass the tree.

14 Julian brings the fire patrol speeder by Jute's tree.jpg
Julian follows along with the fire patrol speeder.

15 Train 216 comes into Labato.jpg
Train 216 rounds the curve into Labato where it will stop so 488 can go over the trestle first due to weight restrictions.

16 Tracy as uncoupled the 488 from the train so it can cross Labato trestle first.jpg
Tracy has uncoupled the 488 from the train and it moves away.

17 An haze of smoke hangs over Labato as 488 crosses the trestle over Wolf Creek.jpg
There is a haze of smoke hanging over Labato as 488 moves over the Lobato trestle over Wolf Creek.

18 Th e463 pulls the train onto the trestle as 488 waits on the other side.jpg
The 463 now pulls the train over the trestle as 488 waits on the other side.

19 488 has now re coupled to the 463 and is doing a brake test.jpg
The 488 has now recoupled to the train and is doing a standing brake test before resuming the climb.

20 The train heads up the 4% grade as it leaves Labato.jpg
The train climbs away from Labato on the 4% grade.
Last edited by Sharon Evans on Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:18 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:53 am

We finish this mornings chase with the train approaching 3d crossing and getting to the summit at Cumbres Pass.
21 A mule deer stands beside the beaver pond before the train scared it away.jpg
I spotted a mule deer grazing beside the beaver pond as I waited for the train to get to this location.

22 The double headed passes the beaver pond with its reflection on the still surface_.jpg
The double header passes the beaver pond with its reflection in the still surface.

23 The summit reached at Cumbres Pass, the helper, 488, cuts away.jpg
The climb over, the 488 cuts away as 463 takes on water. He is blowing for the 4th crossing of Rt. 17.

24 463 has pulled the train forward so the Cindr Bear kids and their parents can get off.jpg
This being a Cinder Bear train, the 463 has pulled the consist forward so the kids and their parents can get off and board the bus back to Chama.

25 With the Cinder Bear passengers off, 463 is back underway and is blowing for the 4th crossing of Rt. 17.jpg
Cinder Bear passengers off, the 463 gets the train underway for the down hill run to Osier and Antonito.

26 488 is backing toward the wye on the passing track now that the train has left.jpg
The 216 gone, 488 backs down toward the wye so he can turn and head back to Chama. Again, I caught him blowing for the crossing of 17.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Mon Aug 07, 2017 7:34 am

On Sunday 7/23/17 I decided to start the day in Antonito and chase train 215 with 463 back to Chama. Last year I explored the Osier Rd. and located several nice photo spots off of the road which I was headed back to this year and then down to Osier itself. One interesting thing, due to how far you have to drive from Osier back to Chama, the train will actually beat you to Cumbres if it is on time.
1 K27 463 leads C&TS train 215 out of Antonito.jpg
Train 215 is departing Antonito with 463 leading.

2 463 crosses county road E5 on its way out of Antonito.jpg
463 crosses county road E5 on its way out of Antonito.

3 Train 215 heads off into the high desert.jpg
Train 215 heads off into the high desert

4 It is so small compared to the country around it.jpg
As the train heads away, it looks so small against the expanse of the country around it.

5 463 comes around the curve blowing for the Forest Service road down to the valley of the Los Pinos.jpg
463 Comes around the curve leading to the Forest Service road leading down to the Los Pinos valley.

6 463 is over the Forest Service road.jpg
463 crosses over the Forest Service road.

7 463 brings train 215 toward the Forest Service road again.jpg
On the road it is less than 0.5 miles from the crossing to this point yet its probably 2 - 3 miles by train.

8 Jeff Stebbins is at the throttle of 463 as it passes_.jpg
Jeff Stebbins is at the throttle of 463 as it passes.

9 The lunch room at Osier.jpg
The Osier lunch room where every day you can get a full turkey dinner, meat loaf meal or salad bar with several hot items.

10 Train 216 is approaching Osier for the lunch stop.jpg
Train 216 from Chama is approaching the Osier stop. If both trains are on time 216 gets in about 30 minutes ahead of 215, yet both leave at about 1:45 pm.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Mon Aug 07, 2017 7:50 am

11 Tracy is firing the 487 as train 216 glides into Osier.jpg
Tracy is firing the 487 as it comes into Osier.


The Friends have refurbished the old buildings at Osier and here are several shots of the station. The docent on 216 opens them up and the docent on 215 locks them back before departing.
12 inside the station at Osier, restored by the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec.jpg

13 Another angle in the station.jpg

14 reverse angle.jpg


15 After the lunch break, 463 heads out with Tracy at the throttle.jpg
Tracy is running the 463 as it departs Osier.

15 463 crosses over the Osier Rd. and by the Osier water tank.jpg
463 leads train 215 out of Osier after the lunch stop and passes the water tank.

16 Train 215 heads away from Osier.jpg
Train 215 is rounding the curve leading away from Osier.

17 Train 215 comes into Chama with 463 leading_.jpg
Train 215 comes into Chama close to time.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby George Pearce » Mon Aug 07, 2017 11:40 am

Sharon, in your first shot of the lunch room at Osier here, did you notice that you weren't alone when taking the picture? Just follow the rails from the right side of the shot.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby John Cole » Mon Aug 07, 2017 11:49 am

Great photos Sharon, thanks for sharing them with us. I always ask Tracy when the train comes by 'did he get dirty today? He is Mr. Clean, Jeff on the other hand seems to be a dirt magnet. (Perhaps Tracy wipe his dirt on Jeff...)
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:44 pm

John Cole wrote:Great photos Sharon, thanks for sharing them with us. I always ask Tracy when the train comes by 'did he get dirty today? He is Mr. Clean, Jeff on the other hand seems to be a dirt magnet. (Perhaps Tracy wipe his dirt on Jeff...)


I love to watch Tracy on the cams. He is wiping down and washing off everything he can before the train goes out. It is amazing how he does the round trip to Osier both shoveling coal and running the locomotive and never seems to get dirty.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:46 pm

George Pearce wrote:Sharon, in your first shot of the lunch room at Osier here, did you notice that you weren't alone when taking the picture? Just follow the rails from the right side of the shot.


I noticed the presence of that critter as I was taking the shot, but did not realize I caught it.
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Jason Rose » Mon Aug 07, 2017 2:28 pm

The interior of the Osier Depot is STUNNING!!!

Dawgone... that is just cool!
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby Sharon Evans » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:13 pm

The Friends do good work, including "dressing the set".
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Re: Chama is again wonderful - 2017

Unread postby John Cole » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:42 pm

I just wish that more of the train riders came over to check out the exibit as there are very few visitors. Considering that the structure was the restroom before the new dining hall was constructed, it has had an amazing transformation back into what it origionally was built for.
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