I finally had mercy on Michele and let her sleep in.  We didn't have to be in Chama until noon for the first of two Pete Lerro charters. We made the obligatory stop in Antonito on the way over and even got lucky enough to catch the regular eastbound (Train 216) at Los Pinos.

Although I had a pretty good time and came home with many pictures that I'm proud of, I don't think I'll do another Lerro charter. There were many great ideas, but I wasn't happy with the way it was managed.

Please let me know if you find mistakes - RioGrandeDude  @ SmittysHouse.net

The D&RGW Antonito Depot

Looking west towards Chama

The new Friends of

C&TS Pole Barn

The C&TS Antonito Depot

Parade "Float"

K36 #484 in the Antonio Engine House. She's almost

done and ready for her first trip to Chama

in 2011. We were there to see it happen Friday.

The original C&TS Depot

As we came around the bend overlooking Los Pinos Valley we saw the smoke of Train 216.

So, we stopped and Michele tried out the telephoto lens.

After arriving in Chama, I got us checked back in at The Hotel and got our bags moved up to our room. Then Michele and I split up for the evening. She deserved some down-time after the crazy pace of the previous 5 days. After getting settled in, she got a shot of the freight that I was chasing as it left the yard. I was down at the Rio Chama waiting for it. On her way back to town for some shopping she stopped and took several photos of the flowers that the Friends of the C&T have planted near the Depot. Then she got a shot of the regular train (215) arriving from Antonito. She found a great little sandwich shop in the back of the Chama Mall called Trinity. We both highly recommend it.

Here is what I was doing while Michele was photographing

flowers, shopping, and catching up on Facebook.

I met up with Steve Forney at the depot prior to the freight leaving.

He offered to let me tag along with him on the chase up the hill.

 accepted and off we went. First stop: the Rio Chama campground.

I hadn't been down to the Rio Chama campground yet. Although, I did hike across the bridge

in 2008. Steve was camping there and had a permit allowing us easy access to the river.

Next up was Dalton. We skipped over the mob at Lobato! This was my first time to venture up to Dalton crossing; the trespassing signs kept me away on other trips. I now know that those signs are illegally posted. The road to the tracks is owned by the Forest Service and is therefore PUBLIC PROPERTY.

Coxo

Looking west, down the 4% grade, at Coxo.

Mr. Forney

A few shots of the Coxo Telegraphone Booth

Rounding Windy Point

Arriving at Cumbres, we boarded and Engineer Ray "Floppo" Loose

backed us down around Windy Point where we disembarked

for a run-by. Squeezing 30 people onto that ledge was interesting.

Back at Cumbres, the crew wyed the train.

Pete Lerro and Alan Loomis

Floppo

The regular train (215) crossing Hwy 17 en route to Chama. Michele took a photo from the balcony of The Hotel when the train arrived in Chama

about an hour later.

Steve

Backing down Cumbres Loop (Tanglefoot Curve).

Two run-bys were performed.

I changed locations for the second run

Back at Cumbres we did a few more run-bys at various locations.

Brakemen Zack Blea

Zack "decorating" the cars

Fireman Ronnie Lopez

Conductor Loomis

Brakeman Blea switching cars in Cumbres Yard.

Attempt at art

I love the light up there at sunset.

What must it have been like to live on Cumbres Pass at 10,000... so far from the

rest of the world...

485 (489) as seen from inside the Section House where

dinner was served:

sausage on tortillas.

The crew grabs some chow.

(L-R) Brakemen Lopez, Engineer Floppo, bystander, Brakeman Blea.

Floppo and Zack

The Milky Way

489 on the pile trestle

over the original highway

I did the best I could with my limited (but growing)

knowledge of photography and camera equipment.

489 and train heads back to Chama.

I got back to town around 2300 and promptly hit the rack.