NG Circle Tour - 2010
August 21 - September 1
Trip Report
Day 10 - Monday, August 30
The 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Cumbres & Toltec
Recreating the First Train into Chama on September 6th, 1970
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Last fall, discussions began about the 40th Anniversary party. I knew that somehow, some way, I HAD to be in Chama to experience this. It almost didn't happen and plans were made and then cancelled several times as scheduling conflicts arose. In the end, the stars and planets aligned and our schedules permitted us to be in Chama at the right time. Being able to attend RailFest the week before was also a major bonus! This was truly an incredible trip! |
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Chama Yard - Mid-morning |
K36 #483 and her twin from 40 years previous. |
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487 was the lucky candidate chosen to assume the role of 483 for the reenactment. I was one of the lucky few that got pictures of the 2 locomotives side-by-side that morning. |
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These 3 shots are variations of a photo I took last October that won an award at the 2010 National Sn3 Symposium in Houston. |
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487/483 preparing the train |
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Here comes the rain again! Fortunately I really like the lighting effects you can get with stormy weather. |
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Jordan Spreader OU |
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I know the paint scheme is historic and appropriate... but it sure is hard to look at! |
Singer, songwriter, & Texan: Ed Stabler |
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Conductor Alan Loomis (right) Engineer Jeff Stebbins (center) |
Rotary OY under dark skies. |
Jackelopette & El Russo Loco Cindy & Russ are bringing the promised earplugs into the Depot. |
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Russ and Ed |
Too funny! |
Russ giving Ed the music |
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Russ serenades a captive audience! (It was raining and there was no where else to go!) HERE is the video. |
The Volunteers from 1970 that opened the railroad and made the C&T a reality!!!! |
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487/483 pushed the train to the west end of the yard, near the stock pens. Michele and I claimed front row seats on the rear platform of Caboose 0503. The view was spectacular, but it was REALLY LOUD! |
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487 coupled to 0503 |
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Passing the water tank |
Crossing the Rio Chama |
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Doris & Jim Granflaten |
MP 343 |
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Uncoupling at Lobato Siding. |
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487/483 backed to the east switch of Lobato Siding and then ran around the train. |
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This is the End-of-the-Line on the west side until the burned out Lobato Trestle is repaired in 2011. |
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Russ Sperry (Russo Loco) Orange shirt Cindy (Jackelopette) Maroon jacket *Terry Ross - Denim jacket ---- *Mr. Ross was one of the key players in the preservation of the final portion of the D&RGW narrow gauge system, now known as the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. |
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The re-created work train passing through Lobato on its way to Chama. MP 340 |
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Michele and me in the cupola of 0503 |
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Rounding the curve near Lobato Lake ---- At the top right (on Hwy 17) is Rich and Jon from the D&S along with Michael Ripley and Roger Hogan. |
Conductor Alan Loomis reboards the train | |
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Engineer Jeff Stebbins and daughter Stephanie |
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The "Summer of '70" volunteers at the location where the "broken rail" incident took place. The story goes that when the new Highway 17 crossing was built, a rail was broken. In order to complete the first trip into Chama and open the railroad in September 1970, the rail needed to be replaced. It just so happened that the salvage company hired to scrap the line between Chama and Durango had stored some of the old rail at the west end of Chama Yard. A few volunteers (names omitted to protect the guilty) "liberated" some of the scrapped rail by tying it to the bumper of their car and dragging it through the streets of Chama to this crossing. The rail was replaced and the train made it safely (although late) into Chama. |
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Russ Sperry The man. The myth. The legend. |
Re-boarding after the "Broken Rail" ceremony |
Fred Juke's Tree |
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Rio Chama Crossing |
Chama Yard |
Passing the Water Tank |
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Passing the Coal Tipple |
Chef Extraordinaire: Stephen Flowers You KNOW good chow is nearby when you see Stephen! |
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The work train in Chama Yard |
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This tent is where we ate the BBQ pork dinner that Mr. Flowers prepared. Great food! Great view! |
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El Russo Loco and "faux eighty three" |
This is a staged photo of Engineer Floppo catching Russ in the act of painting 487 to look like 483. |
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"483" at the Depot |
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15 second time-lapse of 487 heading to the Engine House |
Chama Depot with and without Roger's truck. *Roger was providing light for Mike Ripley to break down his gear and had no idea he had backed into my shot. I thought it was funny. |
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I missed being in Chama for the first train in 1970. I was born 5 years later! So, being there this time is a memory I'll cherish forever. My thanks to everyone involved in making this happen, especially Russ Sperry and Alan Loomis. |
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