The Charm of Chama
|
Larry Gibson, a good friend of mine, asked me to do a special photo-essay on the "Charm of Chama."
What is this "Charm of Chama?" It's not just the historic setting or the historic rolling stock. It's not just the living museum that is the C&T. Nope, not even the heritage steam locomotives originally used by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.
It's all of those things plus... the people.
What REALLY makes Chama so special is the railroaders of the Cumbres & Toltec. These dedicated few keep to the time-honored ways. They keep the centuries-old traditions of mountain steam railroading alive well past the time they should have faded into history. It is possible today to experience what it was really like then because of these hard-working men and women.
We all owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude and this page is a step in that direction. |
*If you know the names of any of these men not already labeled please let me know.
*If you are pictured and would like high resolution copies of any of these pictures feel free to contact me.
Rio Grande Dude @ SmittysHouse.net (remove the spaces)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductor Alan Loomis releases the brakes on the water car belonging to Rotary OY in Chama. August 2010 |
GM Soni Honegger & Engineer Jeff Stebbins in Chama. October 2009 |
Brakemen Jim McKee & Conductor Alan Loomis tie down a 3500 series boxcar in Chama. October 2009 |
Engineer Max Cassias oils around. October 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fireman Tracy Caraway inspects the 489 in Chama Yard. May 2009 |
Conductor Alan Loomis guides Rotary OY through Chama Yard. August 2010 |
Frank Turner & Engineer Jeff Stebbins. May 2009 |
Ray Martinez & Alan Loomis prepare the morning train. May 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GM Soni Honegger & Engineer Ray "Floppo" Loose May 2009 |
Frank Turner, Engineer Jeff Stebbins, Tracy Caraway, and Conductor Ray Martinez inspect 489 after a derailment at Los Pinos Siding. May 2009
|
Engineer Jeff Stebbins adds sand to 489 at Coxo, CO after a wet and slippery climb up from Chama. May 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crew at work in Chama Yard. October 2009 |
Conductor Ray Martinez & Brakemen Jim McKee switch cars in Chama Yard. October 2009 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brakemen Jim McKee switches cars in Chama Yard. October 2009 |
As of April 2011, Brian Laue is the finest Friends Docent I have seen/heard yet. May 2009 |
Engineer Ray "Floppo" Loose hands 487 over to the night hostler at the end of the day in Chama Yard. October 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductors Alan Loomis, Nick Quintana, & Ray Martinez ride Caboose 0579 during Chama Steam VIII. October 2009 |
Engineer Jose Torres waters K36 #487 at Cumbres Pass. May 2009 |
Volunteer Jay Wimer flags the crossing at Coxo, CO. May 2009 |
Brakemen Michelle Martin giving a shop tour in Chama. The boiler is from K27 #463. October 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Engineer & Night Hostler, Jose Torres, prepares 488 for the days work at Cumbres Pass. August 2010 |
Conductor Nick Quintana in Antonito Yard. August 2010 |
Engineer Ray "Floppo" Loose & Engineer Jeff Stebbins in Antonito. August 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductor Nick Quintana Wyes Goose 5 at Big Horn, CO. August 2010 |
RGS 5 Motorman Larry Spencer & C&T Conductor Nick Quintana. August 2010 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-time C&T Engineer Jeff Stebbins aboard K36 #487. August 2010 |
Brakemen Ed Beaudette tying up an air hose at Lobato. August 2010 |
Conductor Alan Loomis switches 483/487 at Lobato. August 2010 |
Brakemen Ed Beaudette, Engineer Jeff Stebbins, and Conductor Alan Loomis in Chama. August 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The unsung heroes of the Fire Patrol. August 2010 |
Volunteers Bandit and Bill wait to flag the crossing at Cumbres Pass. August 2010 |
Ray Martinez & ???? switch cars in Cumbres Yard. August 2010 |
Perhaps the most important person in the day of the average tourist! Master Chef, Stephen Flowers. August 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Morning in Chama Yard. Fireman Tracy Caraway guides 484 to the Yard Lead. July 2008 |
A time-honored ritual performed by Engineer Greg Casford. July 2008 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tracy Caraway & Jeremy Garcia even out the coal pile in the tender on 484 in Chama. July 2008 |
Tracy Caraway guides 484 to her waiting train in Chama. July 2008 |
Brakeman switching at Cumbres. July 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Martinez & Ronnie Lopez switching at Cumbres. July 2008 |
Ronnie Lopez switching at Cumbres. July 2008 |
Engineer Greg Casford waiting for signals at Cumbres Pass. July 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brakeman Ronnie Lopez switches car in Cumbres Yard. July 2008 |
Soni brings 315 into Chama Yard. July 2008 |
Conductor John Parker & Engineer Soni Honegger waiting for signals in Chama Yard on board 315. July 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
315 in Chama Yard. July 2008 |
315 entering Chama Yard. July 2008 |
Engineer Soni Honegger taking a break at the pass. July 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductor Alan Loomis at Cumbres. July 2008 |
Soni preparing to Highball. July 2008 |
Jim Wrinn (Trains Magazine) & Richard Tower (VP of the C&T) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductor Alan Loomis at Cumbres |
Arriving at Cumbres |
Fire Patrol hard at work |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fire Patrol hard at work. July 2008 |
Enjoying the ride to the Pass. July 2008 |
Turning 315 for another run up the hill to Cumbres Pass. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductor Alan Loomis assembles a train in Chama. July 2008 |
Preparing RGS Motor 5 for the trip back to Dolores, CO. July 2008 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductor Alan Loomis wyes 315 in Chama. July 2008 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductor Loomis guides 315 through the Chama Wye. July 2008 |
Conductor Loomis wyes 315 in Chama or perhaps... "Extra 315 East Arriving from Durango" |
315 Crossing Hwy 17 west of Chama, in the Wye. July 2008 |
Conductor Loomis at the Pass. July 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Parker (315) & Larry Spencer (RGS 5) July 2008 |
Crewman discuss the next days ops. July 2008 |
Looking over the shoulders of Motorman Larry Spencer & Conductor Alan Loomis inside of RGS Motor 5. July 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Extra 315 West at Toltec Siding - Fireman Matt Hoover July 2008 |
Engineer Soni Honegger Working on 315 in Toltec Siding. July 2008 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greasing the rods on 315 July 2008 |
Conductor John Parker onboard Caboose 0579 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crew on 0579 west of Big Horn. July 2008 |
Larry Spencer on RGS Motor 5 east of Ferguson Trestle - July 2008 |
Crew discussing the plan of the day in Antonito - July 2008 |
Soni cleaning the bell on 315. July 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
315 in Antonito. July 2008 |
John Parker hanging the Marker Lights on 315 |
Topping off 315's sand supply for the long climb to Cumbres Pass |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
315 in Antonito July 2008 |
"Oiling around" July 2008 |
Soni, 315's tender, and a stock car. July 2008 |
|
