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Say Hello to the Cumbres & Toltec Track
Crew, these guys are in charge of 64 miles of track. They are a
great bunch of guys who do a tremendous amount of work, they deserve
our thanks and I will be the first to say thanks guys for all the
hard work you do behind the scene's.
Starting on the back row: its Joseph, Julian and
the Bottom Row: its Orlando, Toby, Ray, and Rudy... missing is
Robert and Max.
These are the Guys on
the track crew who put in the new track to the CRF in Antonito, way
to go Guys!!! |
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This Picture completely
describes why every single one of us is crazy about steam... There
is a Timeless Beauty and Grace that nothing else but steam can
replicate.
Thanks to Bruce Edgerton for this great shot. |
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Now a look into the interior of the Chama
Shop where 484, 487 and 488 are undergoing tune-ups and repair.
These shots were taken the 7th of December 2005.
Well I made it, I made a trip over to Chama, it
was a little icey and showing about 1 foot of snow at La Manga. |
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The Chama Shop is going full blast, I am going to
show you a small update and the big one will be next week. You are
looking at a Boring Machine the crew used to correct the dimensions
of the sleeve on the front end of 488 where the Bissell post rides.
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The Boring machine is working downward and
correcting the interior dimension of the pocket where the Bissell
post rides. Next the Bissell Post will be squared, then a sleeve to
fit the Bissell Post and the interior of the Pocket will be made and
its fixed... top knotch work guys. |
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A look at 484 and the Driver wheels. |
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Now a quick look at a driver Axle mounted on the
new Quartering Machine, that looks impressive. The axle is in place
to check the fit, a lot of piece's were missing from the Quartering
Machine, so the Chama Shop made the necessary piece's themselves.
Now let me tell you when we had to send axles to another railroad to
get this kind of work done, it could cost upwards if I am correct of
20 thousand dollars, now that we can do that in the Chama shop, you
can quickly see how much money the Chama Shop is saving the
Railroad, way to go, guys. |
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Another look at the Axle mounted on the Quartering
Machine, you can easily see all the piece's the Chama Shop Guys had
to make. |
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This is a Trailing truck axle being polished and
cleaned up, it will installed into a locomotive once it is done
Next week, I will have about 30 shots from the
Chama Shop, keep your eyes open... |
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Now a few shots from the inside of the
Locomotive 487's cab looking back over the Coal Bunker to the
beautiful fall colors along the Railroad.
I don't know about you, but I really like the way
these came out.. |
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The same cloud a few miles down from the last
picture.... I didn't realize till I looked at the shots that I lined
up this shot and the last pretty close with the same cloud in the
sky. |
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These
shots were taken in route as we took Locomotive 487 back to Chama
from Antonito for Winter Servicing.
Locomotive 487 at Cumbres on her last run of of
2005. |
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Another shot of 487. |
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I love this building, what a beautiful structure. |
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Once in Chama, 487 was handed over to the shop
guys and they took her to the ashpit and dropped her fire.. she
cooled down and into the shop she went. |
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Welcome to Alburquerque, New
Mexico and the Governors big plan coming true, Rail Runner
Locomotive 101 is in the Yard waiting for service..
RailRunner is a new service
that will transport commuters between Belen, Los Lunas and
Alburquerque and eventually into Santa Fe. |
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On Wednesday the 19th of October, we ran the
last two trains of 2005, Diesel 19 out of Antonito and 488 out of
Chama with a meet at Cumbres Station, Colorado 50 miles west of
Antonito. I am in the Engineers
seat of Diesel 19 looking back to the east switch of Los Pinos
Siding. |
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Looking forward from the Engineers seat, we are
nearing milepost 326 on our climb to Cumbres pass. |
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Diesel 19 arrives at Cumbres Station. |
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We arrived a little early and had to wait for 488
to arrive with the last batch of passenger cars for movement to
Antonito. |
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It was quite snowy that day, we were anxious to get our
consist from 488 and head back to Antonito, Diesel 19 actually made
a 100 mile roundtrip that day. |
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Good Ole' 19.... |
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I thought you would like to see a shot of Cumbres
in the stages of early winter, it is quite different from the summer
season. |
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Now we will just be patient and wait for
Locomotive 488. |
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I thought you might like to see Cumbres in a
Different light. |
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The cold of Winter brings a new look to Cumbres...
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The Yellow of the paint does stand against the
dull colors of Winter. |
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The building is beautiful even in the cold. |
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This little creek of sorts drains off the overflow
from the water system in Cumbres. |
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Cumbres holds off the cold and waits for the next
train to come thru. |
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I thought we would pull to the station while we
were waiting to get a few more shots for you all, they will be in
the next updates. |
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The Train set is beautiful, a wave of
colors in the Desert Land of New Mexico. |
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These were taken a few years
back while 463 was still in service...
Now a few shots of 463 from our
friend Bill Noe... |
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That appears to be Jose on the
fireman's side putting water into 463. |
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Good Ole' 463 at the Sanding Tower. |
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Its morning and 463 pulls out of the
shop headed to the Ash pit, another day and 463 is ready...
Thanks to Bill Noe for these great
shots. |
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This is as close as I could get, but
as soon as its in service, I am gonna ride that baby.... New
Mexico's RailRunner. |
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Another look at the last chapter in the
Track installation in Antonito to the Car Repair Facility.
The guys were adding a little dirt and then
finishing out with ballast and the tamper machine. |
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The guys filled in low spots and then secured the
track with ballast and then the tamper came in to smooth it all out. |
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The Tamper at work, compacting rock under the
ties. |
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A look at the track work on the last switch, the
next section of track into the shop will be done next year. |
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The track is done up until where the Tamper is
sitting. This work was completed and up to this point when this shot
was taken on Oct 28th 2005. |
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The Guys finishing up the project. |
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A look at the track coming into the shop. |
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The tracks look great and its another step in
improving and providing a better working eniviroment for everybody. |
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Another detail shot of the switch. I will add a
few more to show you the added on section on the work track spur
behind Fort Knox in Antonito. Hope you liked the shots of this
project. |
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In a Great magazine named
"Classic Trains" from the Editors of "Trains Magazine" of Kalmbach
Publishing, is a picture of the AT&SF yard of Alburquerque, New
Mexico. The picture is a aerial view of the yard, well if you buy
that Fall 2005 issue or have it already.. this is building 11, it
was the Boiler shop, built in 1922-23 and had 19 tracks for
Locomotive Boiler Work. |
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Now our last look at the
SSLV. |
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How about a view of the interior of
that one-of-a-kind Railroad Locomotive. |
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This is the Engineer's controls on
the right side looking forward. You can see what left of the Brake
Stands. |
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Another look at the front end and
that Cool Grille.... |
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Now check this out, that is one of
the axles with a gear attached, this is where the chain from the
motor powered the Locomotive. |
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This is the logo, its almost gone,
but it consisted of a Circular logo with the SSLV below and "The
Taos Route" above and with two snowcapped peaks over the Taos Pueblo
in the circle. |
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That is one Locomotive that deserves
to be restored and run on the rails once again. |
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Now according to the
picture, this is Building 9.. It was the AT&SF Erecting Shop and had
29 tracks. Between this building and the building in the previous
picture was a Transfer Table. |
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Now we are in Santa Fe and
under the I-25 overpass, Welcome to the Santa Fe Southern.
Locomotive 93 is leading a
passenger train to Galisteo. |
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The Santa Fe Southern is a favorite
of mine, A tough, cool little railroad serving the Capital of New
Mexico. |
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I am amazed, this railroad climbs up
and down and all around as it winds into the Santa Fe Yards. |
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And there is good ole' 93 and onboard
is my wonderful Friend Janice Convery, a Engineer with SFS. |
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And onward it goes to Galisteo, the
Santa Fe Southern is worth a look, take some time and ride the SFS. |
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And that is where the
Transfer Table stood, can you imagine a Locomotive being moved, that
would have been so cool to witness.. Thanks for visiting what's left of
the AT&SF in Alburquerque with me... |
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A visit to the Durango &
Silverton.
Welcome to Roundhouse in Durango, this is Caboose 0505. I like the
window set-up in the Cupola. |
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Here is the Morning train preparing
for departure to Silverton. |
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A boxcar is tied in ahead of the
first passenger car and Brakeman Mike May is helping to load
Backpackers supplies into the boxcar and they will get off along the
line somewhere. |
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Locomotive 482 pulls forward to
switch over to the main, it will run ahead and provide extra power
as a helper to Silverton. |
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Here comes 486, it will power the
train this morning. |
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Love that view, what a way to start
the morning. |
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The Business end of 486 in Durango. |
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Locomotive's 486 and 472 share the
limelight in Durango. |
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Locomotive 472 rests quietly waiting
for action in Durango. |
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472 is looking sharp today, I love
it. |
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The small details make the whole
picture, she looks great. |
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Most people didn't, But I love that
Color of Green, I thought it looked great!!! |
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Now that is good looking, 486, 472
and a "McDonalds". |
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More Railroading in
Alburquerque... Amtrak 166 arrives from Los Angeles.
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Thanks to Bruce Edgerton, we
have another batch of photo's.. |
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You are looking at a steam crane that
Bruce found while looking around... |
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The Air Pump was still intact and
actually had the Rod Lubrication still in place. |
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That is a great find..... |
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And now a narrow gauge Plymouth
Diesel sitting right on the ground, both of these were found near a
county road between Cumberland and Frostburg, Maryland... |
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Amtrak 166 leads a matched set of 3
and they are taking fuel in Alburquerque, New Mexico. |
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Now a collection of Shots
from Steven Dickey.
Good Ole' 487 and 484 prepare for a
Double headed run up Cumbres. |
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484 comes off the Chama River Bridge. |
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A switch stands guard in Chama. |
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Locomotive 487 and Train 216 at
Osier, Colorado. |
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A beautiful colorful look at a Double
Header up Cumbres, and this train is about to come off the 4 percent
grade just below Lobato Siding. |
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487 and 484 powering up to climb out
of Coxo Curve. |
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And at the Summit of Cumbres, Thanks
to Steven for these great shots. |
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This Caboose owned by Bruce
Edgerton was built in 1916 by the NYO&W
Rwy in their shop. The frame is made from two tender frames cut and
spliced together. As the O&W was a mountainous road requiring
helpers, new cabooses with steel frames were needed to cut in ahead
of the rear engine. Bruce's caboose was the first of the caboose's so constructed.
and he thinks there may be two more in existence.
I am sorry, I was unable to
get any shots of the Chama Shop, but on Wednesday the 7th I will
going to Chama and will stop in to get a
new batch of Pictures for you all, so be patient and take care,
Carlos Llamas |
