6/26/16 A bright Sunday morning in Chama

[Sharon Evans]

Sunday gets off to a bright start as we await the beginning of the preparations for today's train 216.

6.26.16 Sunday morning and sun is shinning brightly.jpg (167.58 KiB) Viewed 1990 times

[Sharon Evans]

Morning preparations:

6.26.16 487 has come out to the pit to start the day's activities.jpg (179.12 KiB) Viewed 1985 times

6.26.16 487 gets its tank filled for the start of the day.jpg (169.35 KiB) Viewed 1981 times

6.26.16 487 backs to the coal dock lead as the batten boards at the coal ramp are inspected.jpg (172.45 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

6.26.16 487 moves into the coal dock lead.jpg (173.79 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

As 487 moved to the dock it creeped by the ramp as the staff watched closely. Maybe clearance issues with the batten boards even though they were installed last summer.

6.26.16 487 gets coal added to its bunker for the day note the speeder on the main it came from the tower lead.jpg (178.38 KiB) Viewed 1979 times

6.26.16 Morning prep done the hostlers will hand off to the road crew.jpg (170.52 KiB) Viewed 1978 times

6.26.16 The speeder that came off the coal tower lead.jpg (169.69 KiB) Viewed 1975 times

6.26.16 487 gets sand added to the dome.jpg (181.84 KiB) Viewed 1972 times

6.26.16 487 has backed down to the train, seven cars today.jpg (117.94 KiB) Viewed 1970 times

With the delivery of sand last year it came in those very big bladders instead of the individual bags. They have to use a bucket to transfer it over to the dome.
This afternoon that RPO is going to gleam in the afternoon sun.

[Sharon Evans]

Departure of train 216:

6.26.16 Train 216 has moved into loading position.jpg (131.13 KiB) Viewed 1968 times

6.26.16 Under a nice cloud of coal smoke, 487 gets train 216 moving.jpg (175.1 KiB) Viewed 1957 times

As 487 passes the coal tower, the engineer blows for the running brake test

6.26.16 Parlor Colorado brings up the rear of the Colorado train set.jpg (149.3 KiB) Viewed 1957 times

[Rich Murray]

With the delivery of sand last year it came in those very big bladders instead of the individual bags. They have to use a bucket to transfer it over to the dome.

The plan is to eventually put the sand house back into operation. I am not privy to the schedule regarding that but while the cleaning out of the "sand box" might be only for esthetics, maybe it has a larger meaning. One can hope

[Sharon Evans]

With the delivery of sand last year it came in those very big bladders instead of the individual bags. They have to use a bucket to transfer it over to the dome.

The plan is to eventually put the sand house back into operation. I am not privy to the schedule regarding that but while the cleaning out of the "sand box" might be only for esthetics, maybe it has a larger meaning. One can hope

I noted that the crew that was doing the cleaning also inspected the track leading to the sand pit like maybe it would be cleaned off this coming week.

[Sharon Evans]

Five weeks from today I will be on 216 waiting to depart.

[Sharon Evans]

I will be watching to see if 215 shows on the Cumbres CDoT cam, but I have figured that train length has a lot to do with this. A seven car train fits so the parlor is just out of frame on the left, while an 8+ car train is in the frame. Eight cars went east yesterday, but they may pull that car in Antonito just like they did on Friday's 216 before 215 came back with 7.

6.26.16 Fire patrol speeder at Cumbres.jpg (81.68 KiB) Viewed 1915 times

With the speeder shown the parlor is probably just ahead of it so Antonito probably took the extra coach off.

[Sharon Evans]

Arrival of train 215: They did the engine swap at Osier again with 487 coming back to Chama.

6.26.16 487 brings a wet 215 into Chama.jpg (132.9 KiB) Viewed 1901 times

With the rain shower, the open gon is empty this afternoon as 215 comes into Chama

The parlor New Mexico has a full platform and the fire patrol comes behind

6.26.16 There is a hint of blue sky as 487 slows at the depot.jpg (98.32 KiB) Viewed 1901 times

[Larry Sullivan]

A quiet day in the yard today. Other than our two trains, the only real activity was 484 coming to the ash pit for a cleaning, and then going for a drink.

Here's the 216 departure this morning.



215 returns with 487 in the lead, swapping locomotives at Osier again. See if you can spot the deer quietly grazing as 487 blows the whistle and passes, totally unconcerned with the big noisy locomotive.