Saturday morning brought something that I had not anticipated. I was awakened by the sound of bells and whistles!! And let me tell ya... there ain't no better alarm clock on earth!! I just laid there and listened to cars being moved and locomotives shuttling back and forth in the yard. Words can't describe how utterly cool that was. Eventually though, I got up and got ready. Carlatte's provided a kickin omelet breakfast; where else can you get green chili's in your omelet and then eat while watching a real live steam railroad work from 200 yards away!!

After chow was stored, I headed over to Jay's shop to say hi. Much to my surprise he knew my name from the Goat. Very cool!

The 2009 Opening Ceremonies did not disappoint. The patriotic spirit was stirring and I don't think I've been around so many Marines since I left the Corps. The highlight for me was the honoring of each branch of the service. As the name of the service was read the whistle on 487 was blown long and clear and a volley from an M1 Garand was fired. It was unique, it was emotional, and it was perfectly appropriate.

At the conclusion of the ceremony we were cleared to board the train. I was the first paying customer to enter the new rider-gon "Cumbres Vista." I'm not crazy about the color, I prefer the original Grande look. But, I must admit that the car is very nicely built. Kudos to the Friends for getting it completed in time for Opening Day.

The trip up the hill was routine until about 2 miles south of Coxo at MP 334. At that point the rusty rails and light rain combined to make the trip interesting... Our Engineer, Jeff Stebbins, worked valiantly to get the train (all EIGHT cars) up to Cumbres, but it wasn't meant to be. Even after manually spreading sand on the rails due to a malfunctioning sand line, there still wasn't enough adhesion to get us moving for more than a few hundred feet at a time. So, after about 45 minutes of failed attempts the train was broken in two and 487 took the first 4 cars up to the pass, still slipping as she went. About 30 minutes later she returned to get the rest of us. Fortunately the commissary car was on my section of the train! Finally arriving at Cumbres 2 hours late, the train was quickly reassembled and we headed down the east side towards Osier and LUNCH!

Lunch at Osier was FANTASTIC, as usual. I had the turkey on my first two trips on the C&T. This time I had the meatloaf and it was just as good. Actually, it was freakin awesome! Stephen Flowers and his crew are culinary geniuses.

After more chow was comfortably stored I raided the gift shop. 'Nuf said.

As I started to head outside the bottom fell out. Not only was it pouring, but it was HAILING too. So, I waited...

I eventually got outside and snapped some neat pictures with "storm lighting." I'm really fond of this lighting effect and this was my first attempt at using it. You can judge the results for yourself.

As soon as we boarded and left the yard the bottom dropped out again. So, we were forced to abandoned the rider-gon. But, it wasn't so bad, it gave me a chance to sit down for a while... a rare occurrence on these trips.

The rain stopped. Everyone headed back outside. Things were pretty much back to normal again until just before Sublette when Jeff dumped the air, putting the train into emergency. I looked forward from the right side and saw a deer running ahead of us. My first thought was that we had hit one, but that seemed rather unlikely. Turns out it was a rock slide. The crew from the Motor Car following us (including GM Soni Honegger) joined the train crew and they removed the rocks.

The rest of the trip was normal and we arrived at Antonito about 3 hours late, but totally satisfied.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Steven Forney most of the day. I also, briefly, met Joe  Kanocz. Both gentlemen post on the Goat. It's always a treat to put a face with a name from the internet.

After returning to Chama, Foster's once again provided some chow and I crashed into a much-needed food coma...

Here's the view from the street across from Jay's shop

The new Concession Car. IMHO, it's got a slight European look/

The new rider-gon

"Cumbres Vista"

More views of "Cumbres Vista"

Assembling the train

Soni cleaning the lights

C&T CEO Frank Turner and

Engineer Jeff Stebbins

The newly completed 488

Attempt at Art

488 and steam

487 making up the train

Firing the Salute to the Armed Forces

First paying customer aboard the new rider-gon "Cumbres Vista"

Lobato Trestle

Dalton Ranch

Volunteer

Soni's newest toy

This is the front of the train... something's missing. 487 had to take the first half up to Cumbres, doubling the hill

Soni's new toy

Looking RR east from the head of the train

While waiting this humming bird provided a brief distraction. After 487 left it got REALLY quiet...

487 returns...

...and couples on

The Coxo phone booth and Windy Point

Volunteer

Windy Point

Soni's toy and Jay at Coxo Crossing

Max replenishes the water

Train bulletin board on the Cumbres Section House. Note: the 315 trip from July 7th of last year is still posted. I was on the trip!

Volunteer

487 reassembling the train in the Cumbres Yard. Note the hoppers being used to spread the new ballast

There was still quite a bit of snow in the shady areas

Tanglefoot Curve

Heading out of

Tanglefoot Curve

Snow Fences from

the Grande days

Los Pinos Phone Booth

Cascade Creek joins the Rio de Los Pinos

Cascade Creek joining

the Rio Los Pinos

Looking north up

 Cascade Creek

 Rio de Los Piņos heads east

Osier, CO

Osier, CO

The new coal dock the Friends just finished last year in Osier

Osier Section House

Hail in Osier

Soni's new toy. I love that steering wheel. Classic!

489 in Osier

Osier Tank

Osier Section House

Osier Station and some storm light

Osier Section House

489 and Osier Tank

Looking north from Osier

489 and Osier tank

Looking south from Osier

487

Newly ballasted track

Tell-tale at the west

end of Rock Tunnel

West portal of Rock Tunnel

Rock Tunnel

East portal of Rock Tunnel

The boulders that stopped

us near Sublette

I stood atop that

rock last summer

West portal of Mud Tunnel

Mud Tunnel

MOW work being done on Toltec Siding

View near Toltec

View near Toltec

Sublette, NM

More MOW work

Sublette, NM

Mt Ballast east of Sublette

Road near Big Horn

Big Horn phone booth

West end of the disconnected Big Horn Siding. Both ends are now disconnected

West leg of Big Horn Wye

Tail of the wye

The east leg

Views near the Whiplash Curve area

 Soni on the upper

Whiplash line

Antonito at the

end of the rainbow?

Looking towards Antonito

The connecting track for the

Lava Balloon Loop

Lava Tank

Blowing down on the Lava Loop

Lava Tank

The east end of the

connecting track

Mt San Antonio

These 2 Mile Posts are about 100 yards apart, but a mile of track separates them

Lava Phone Booth

DAY 2