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Welcome to the 2nd Week of April
Update and let me introduce you to the Crew of Cent'r Stage.. the
Wells Fargo Balloon.
You are looking at the Beautiful Smiles of Cathy Anne Armijo, Rose
Ann Peralta and Lynn Sandoval.. they are part of the crew of the
Balloon and work for Wells Fargo. Thank you Ladies for taking the
time to visit and I hope to bump into you again at future Balloon
rally's. |
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And here's Cent'r Stage. |
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Here is the Track Inspection Motor
Car crew that lead the way ahead of the Cascade Canyon Train on the
Durango & Silverton. That is Mac McCoy on the left and 41 year
veteran of both the D&RGW and the Durango & Silverton, John
Martinez.. John is a highly experienced railroader and has worked all
over the D&RGW System. Thanks Guys for taking the time to talk with
me.. The D&S is lucky to have this pair of highly dedicated and
experienced railroaders.. There is more of these two guys down
below. |
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Here is me on the Alamosa Parlor
Car riding the Durango & Silverton train to Cascade Canyon Wye. And
the Picture was taken by my wonderful buddy of a friend named Mike
May. |
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And now here is Kelly Baldwin,
Pilot of the Balloon Enchanted Duckie. I really enjoyed talking with
Kelly, such a charming and fun person with a Million Dollar Smile.. |
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And here is Enchanted Duckie.
There will be more of both
Balloons down below and these were taken at the St Patrick's day
Rally in Los Lunas, New Mexico. |
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Thursday April 22nd 2005...
Thursday Morning, how about 6:20... Marvin and I
are getting 484 ready to roll, cleaning out the ashes.. there is
Marvin in the glow of Sunrise blowing ashes out of the Ashpan. |
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We cleaned the ashes, started up the air pump and
pulled out ready to roll. I ran the
484, she is a little stiff, due to the new valve's, but she ran cool
all the way to Milepost 290 and back, we used the Pettibone machine
and loaded about 45 sticks of rail for the Track crew for the
Antonito Yard Addition.. we lapped the Blowdown valves and they
sealed without not so much as a hint of leaks and the whistle was
also lapped and it sealed beautifully.. the 484 is ready for the
summer. More picture's on the next weeks update. |
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The Pacific Southwest
Railway Museum is located in Campo, CA, in the mountains about 50
miles east of San Diego. Their web site is
www.psrm.org.
Along with about 80 pieces of rolling stock on display, they offer
12 to 15-mile trips every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 and 2:30.
Special runs are made once a month in the Spring and Fall to Tecate,
Mexico. Right now, everything is diesel powered using either a GP-9
or a GE 80-tonner. See the web site for lots more details.
This info and Photo, thanks to Jim
Baker. |
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Here is Max and Joseph drilling a hole in a rail,
they are making the first rail connection on the new switch. The
road bed has been dug down and new ballast laid down. |
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Now the first rail connection is put in and there
are ties to support the rail. |
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A overview of the work area. |
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A view of the work from the roof in Antonito. |
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The Ties are being installed and properly spaced
for the switch. |
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Its alot of work and the track is being put in to
exact measurements. |
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Looks good so far. |
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You can see how the Ties increase in size to the
left for the switch turnout and the two ties that will support the
switch stand. |
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A View of the Flatcar from Durango.. |
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I thought you might like this view of the Flatcar,
it looks like a Model on a workbench in somebody's Model Railroad
room. |
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This is 484 and we are doing the Hammer test on
the reservoir, we had to drop the Cooling pipes and the reservoir
straps to be able to turn or spin the reservoir. The Hammer Test
allows us to check the strength of the reservoir.. We actually go
over the entire surface of the reservoir striking the surface with a
chipping hammer making small divots in the metal. Then we pressure
test it with water and if it has a weak spot, the chipping hammer
divots should reveal the weak spot with a leak.... |
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Both reservoirs were tested... |
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You know what, we figured out the 484's reservoirs
are on the wrong sides, Oops!!! The Engineers is on the firemans
side and vice versa!!! |
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Back to the Archive's... |
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Diesel 19 and two cars of ties at Lava Tank. |
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We had pulled the cars out of the connecting track
at Lava and were stopped here to check the straps and tie downs. |
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We are moving west with the ties, these ties
actually went all the way to Cascade Trestle and west of there. |
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That's my view from Diesel 19's Cab looking back
over the ties. |
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We are stopped at Milepost 305.05 near the dirt
road to take fuel. |
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The Track Crew truck comes in to fill us up. |
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Now another work train, I am at milepost 310 and I
have a load of rail, the Pettibone is up against my front unloading
rail. |
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I actually have a complete load of supplies to
replace track, rail, plates, spikes, bolts and all. |
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Diesel 19 at milepost 310. |
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Another view of Diesel 19 on the job. |
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Unloading more rail. |
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This whole curve has since been replaced. |
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"Happy
Birthday to my Wonderful Friend Sheryl" |
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This is the new track and how the work is
progressing. |
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You can see the switch has been installed and they
are working on the points. |
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A view of the work from the Dirt loading ramp. |
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A view of the work, it looks like a switch now. |
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Hey get this, they actually got me up on the water
tank to do routine maintenance. |
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A view from the top of the Antonito Tank. |
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Looking to the Commission Depot and the Antonito
depot. |
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Now because we shut the water down during the
winter, we have to get into the Antonito tank and seal the cracks to
allow the tank to seal and hold water until the wood swells and
seals on its own. You are looking at the flap valve that delivers
water to the spout and into the tender of the Locomotive. |
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That is actually the ladder from the roof of the
Tank and down into the tank itself. That is how you get down to the
floor of the tank. |
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Marvin is inside the Tank sweeping up debris and
loose caulking. I thought this picture would allow you to visualize
how big the tank is inside!!! |
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Looking up, that is the roof of the Antonito Tank,
its Beautiful actually... |
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A view of the side walls of the Tank and the Roof
of the Tank. You can see the Water line on the walls of the Tank. |
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Another view of the Flap Valve, that cable goes to
the Rope on the spout. |
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A side view of the Flap Valve and Marvin's Pepsi. |
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Another view of the roof. |
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I was just amazed, the roof structure is actually
Beautiful in form and construction!!! |
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The Guys are working on the switch.... |
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Here Rudy is operating a Rail drill, after they
cut the rail to fit, they had to drill new holes for the angle bars
that bolts separate pieces of rail together. |
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Rudy is drilling the rail and Toby is pouring
water to cool the bit. |
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Here's me and My Sweety Erika at
Cascade Canyon Wye.... she is such a cutey! |
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Watching the rails disappear
behind us as we ride the Alamosa Parlor Car on the Durango &
Silverton. |
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Again watching the rails. |
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Looking forward as 482 leads the
train thru the Animas River Canyon. |
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I used a Fisheye Lens to give you
a view as close to my perspective as possible. |
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Riding the rear Platform of the
Alamosa Parlor Car. |
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I love this view, I actually held
the camera way out from the platform, you can see right into the
car. |
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Riding the Open car right ahead of
the Alamosa Parlor Car. |
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We have just arrived at Cascade
Canyon Wye and have run past the Main Switch to back into the Wye,
The Brakeman is on the ground to throw the switch. I shot this
picture right thru the window sitting on the last seat on the right
side of the Car.. that's the best seat in the house. |
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The Switch is now thrown to the
wye and we will back into the leg for a small lunch stop. |
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With the Brakeman at the rear and
watching ahead, the train backs into the Wye. You can see the Track
Patrol Motor Car in the opposite leg of the Wye and in the clear of
the train. |
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20+ year Durango & Silverton
veteran Ben Barker is on the rear platform and ready to put down the
steps for the passengers.. I really like this Guy, he is so friendly
and fun, what a great guy, i have enjoyed getting to meet him.
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Track Patrolman, Mac McCoy and
John Martinez. |
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The interior of the Track Patrol
Motor car. |
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A well traveled Motor Car and John
Martinez. |
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Motorcar 9000.... A Durango &
Silverton Veteran. |
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You know, I would do just about
anything to ride this Motorcar with John and Mac over the Durango &
Silverton.... HINT, HINT!!!!!! |
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Another view of the interior of
Motorcar 9000. |
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Another picture of Enchanted
Duckie's Pilot Kelly Baldwin, thank you Kelly, I really enjoyed
talking with you. |
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Enchanted Duckie. |
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Cold Inflating the Duckie... |
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Kelly watches carefully as the
Burners are fired to inflate Duckie with Hot Air |
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The burner are fired and Duckie
begins to become lifter than air and rise up from the ground. |
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Looking up into Duckie's Envelope. |
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Cent'r Stage, the Wells Fargo
Balloon begins to rise into the Air. |
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This is a huge Balloon and it
takes alot of hot Air to fill its chambers. |
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This is a awesome Balloon... |
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Ain't it a Beauty... |
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There's that Crew of the Wells
Fargo Balloon. |
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The Pilot checks his
Instruments... and the Crew watches closely. |
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The Interior of Cent'r Stage....
you can see the complex construction involved. |
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Another Balloon cold inflates. |
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The Balloons lift off. |
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The sky was pretty ugly, but I
still got some great shots. |
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Liftoff... |
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There goes Cent'r Stage... |
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The Balloons are Beautiful... |
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Another view into the Balloon
during Cold Inflation. |
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I love this Sport, everybody has
been just great and I have learned so much. |
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Another balloon during cold
inflation. |
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The views are just amazing, if you
ever have a chance... go to a Balloon Rally. |
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The Guy there is My Buddy Hugh, he
is a very experienced crew member and has taught me so much,, Great
Guy, what a Great Guy! |
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Another view into the Balloons
Envelope. |
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Looking East from Lava Tank. |
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Well Goodbye for this week... say
bye to the crew of Cent'r Stage... Cathy, Rose and Lynn.....Bye
Ladies, hope to see you soon.. |
