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My wonderful adopted family, the
Andersons... spent a day fishing near Idaho Springs and my wonderful
friend Mr Anderson had his daughter, the
Apple of my Eye,
Jessica take this shot of the Georgetown Loop train crossing Devil's
Gate Trestle.... Great Shot Jess.... Thank You so much. |
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Now here is Jessica standing next
to Colorado & Southern number 60, Mr Andersons Grandfather ran this
Locomotive as a Engineer for the Colorado & Southern.
That is the Prettiest, Most
Valuable, Most wonderful thing in the Whole Wide World.... and the
Steam Locomotive isn't bad either.. |
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Early morning wednesday and Ronnie pulls 488 out
of the shop for the Morning Train. |
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Its 8 o'clock in the morning and 488 is pulled out
of the shop, Ronnie will now back down to the coal dock for a fresh
load, then back up to the tank for water and cleaning, then to the
train... and 488 will be oiled, cleaned and ready for service just
before 9:00 A.M.. |
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Diesel 19 is almost ready, the new traction motors
have been installed... |
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You can see, the Guys made new covers for the
Traction Motors in the Antonito Shop, this will aid in protection of
the motors... when we dump ballast, the Diesel gets covered in
Dust.. |
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I am actually looking forward to seeing the Diesel
19 back in Action.. |
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This is one of the removed Motors, we hope to send
them out for re-wiring and repair soon... |
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Locomotive 488 and Train 215 sits at Osier on the
Siding, and next to the train is the new rebuilt Osier Stock Pens,
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The Osier site has been cleaned and the debris
that sat next to old Depot was moved by the Mondragon Family away
from the buildings. |
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Another view of the Osier Stock Pens. |
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The Depot is actually open, the window covers are
off and you can see right into the building, the interior is
beautiful. |
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How about this view, I am right in the Engineers
seat, while the helper backs down the Wye to turn around. |
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Say Hello to Soni, Soni's father has since passed
away and is in Switzerland, His ashes will be put to rest in
something specially made for him. A railroad lantern specially
rebuilt for him by his son Soni. Soni decided before the lantern was
to be sent to Switzerland, we would give his lantern a ride over the
rails on 487. We hope his Spirit rode with us that day, one last
time over the rails.. |
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Bless him and may he rest in peace...
Charles Willy "Babar" Honeggar, 1926-2005. |
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Our wonderful friend Carmen, A employee at Osier,
came over to wish Soni's Father and his Lantern, safe passage and a
blessing! Carmen has to be the
sweetest person... she is just a amazing young lady and a life long
friend. |
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487 and Train 215 pause's at Los Pinos for Water. |
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In the Classic pose of Railroading, 487 leans into
the curve and takes water. |
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Another day and 487 is at Cumbres with Soni's
Fathers lantern riding the front end. |
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Not many picture's this time, but the Second
Cinder Express climbs out of Coxo Curve... I took these shots
between shovels. |
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Caboose 0306 brings up the rear with Cinder Bear. |
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At the top, 487 cut off from helper duty to become
the power for the return Cinder Train to Chama. |
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We pulled up to clear the Highway and the crew
separated the train. |
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This is what it looked like from my Locomotive. |
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487 will turn on the Wye, switch the Caboose to
the rear and and hook back up to the train. |
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Now its Saturday the 16th and I am on the Helper
and waiting for Jeremy & Locomotive 487 to bring the Train across
the Lobato trestle. |
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Ain't that just a great shot. We had 12 cars on
that days train. |
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Helper 488 is at Cumbres, had a little Injector
trouble, but we still climbed the hill and put on a nice show. |
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I thought this made a great shot. |
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Here comes 487.... |
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Road Locomotive 487 passes Helper 488. |
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I just loved this shot, I know my buddies Dean
Lowe and George Laskar will like these, they are quite the 488
fans... |
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My Fireman Jose and student Fireman Michael stand
next to 488 as the Fire Patrol passes. |
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There goes Bobby... |
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Now back in Chama, I stayed around for a Hour...
So might as well get some picture's. |
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The guys sand up 488. |
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This is the hard way to do it... I know the
sanding tower works, but not sure if the guys can use it... |
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Lifting these bags up to the Sand dome is quite
the Job. |
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But the Guys get the work done, hard or not. |
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And now the Fire will be cleaned... |
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That is the most pain in the Tail thing to do,
that dust gets everywhere... |
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Now some people were questioning
if the Rail lines in the San Luis Valley would survive... |
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Well they appear to be doing just
fine... |
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I am just down the block from my
house and ties are spread along the Standard Gauge Mainline in
Antonito. |
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Friday the 15th and crews are
replacing ties on the mainline in Antonito, there are not brand new,
but they are solid and should help to lift some slow orders in place
at the moment. |
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I will have more of the action
going on here in Antonito on the Standard Gauge Mainline... Crews
push a speeder car along with their supplies near the old Grain
Elevator in Antonito. |
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A few more looks at FEC 148 in
Monte Vista... |
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I was able to get my camera in to
get a few shots of the interior of the Firebox. |
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The Locomotive and Tender are in
great shape, The trucks look good and the bearings are in Fantastic
Condition, I would love to see the work get going on this Machine
and have her fired up in a few years or less. |
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A look at the Firebox of 148....
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I love those Big Drivers... |
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With rods and such, this would be
a Beautiful Machine rolling down the tracks.. |
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A look at the Firebox and the flue
sheet.. you can clearly see the marks from where the interior was
mapped for a Ultrasound test, as the numbers show the results. |
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Another look at the front end of
148. |
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A look at the crosshead and guides
and piston rod. |
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148 front end. |
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The rear end of 148... |
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And here is the Cab of 148... hope
you like this shots, thought they might interest you.. |
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Back to Monte Vista and the
Private Railcar Train. |
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San Luis Central number 70 is
pulling the Train across highway 285, they will turn a few cars
around for the Trip East back to Alamosa and Walsenburg. |
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San Luis & Rio Grande 804 and 805
are holding the leg of the wye waiting for Number 70 to finish
moving the cars up to the Mainline. |
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Here goes the 70 with Carita's. |
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Across Highway 285. |
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Man, isn't Highway 285 great for
train watching, here in Monte Vista the 70 is pulling a Private
Railcar Train and 300 miles south I was on Highway 285 watching BNSF
action north of Vaughan, New Mexico. |
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Three cars were turned on the Wye.... |
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Now they are sitting on the Main. |
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Now Locomotives 804 & 805 will
come back into action. |
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804 & 805 kept Tioga Pass with
them... |
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The San Luis & Rio Grande
Locomotives are set against the Backdrop of the Mount Blanca, its
rises off the San Luis Valley floor and climbs to 14,345 feet. |
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Number 70 is done and returns down
the Wye to its home rails. |
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San Luis Central 70 did a Great
Job and I will return to see that locomotive again. |
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Here comes 804 & 805 with Tioga Pass. |
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The train slowly backs up to make
a couple. |
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I love this shot, I like to see
crews working together... and the ability to share that with
Passengers is so amazing. |
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The Train is re-assembled and is
ready to roll.... Backwards into the Monte Vista from Sugar Junction
where it is now... |
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Slowly and carefully 804 & 805
back the Train into Monte Vista. |
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Welcome to Roswell, New Mexico... |
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The Special Shapes go up and
there's that Wells Fargo Balloon, Hey remember those wonderful
ladies I met, I haven't seen them again.... and I have been lookin'. |
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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.
I had actually been hoping to
meet up with them again, maybe at Balloon Fiesta. |
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I have to come to learn how
wonderful it is to be a member of a Crew for a Hot Air Balloon,
These are young ladies are truly dedicated to the job of crewing a
Hot Air Balloon, and with a Balloon as huge as Cent'r Stage its a
big Job..
The crew is in the basket
providing ballast for the Balloon to keep it firmly on the Ground
while the pilot checks his instruments.. and each one of them is
fully concentrating on the pilot instructions. |
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Cent'r
Stage begins to lift as the Burners are fired into the envelope,
this is delicate and touchy process, every crew member must be on
their toes as the envelope becomes lighter than air... once again, I
give my regards and respect to the Crew and Pilot of Cent'r Stage,
that is a amazing Balloon. |
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It was Great Rally, we were able
to fly both days... |
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This was the first day and I was
in the Chase Truck... |
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I love the perspective of looking
straight up into the Balloons envelope.. |
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I was behind the Crown line of
Viento Encantado, the crown line attaches to the top of the Balloon
and helps to control the envelope while it is inflated and while the
Burners are fired to stand up the Balloon. even in the smallest
breeze, the Balloon can roll with wind and you can control the roll
by pulling in the opposite direction. |
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Other balloons stand up next to
Viento Encantado. |
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Our Pilot Clarke O'Bryne lifts off
with Viento Encantado |
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Viento Encantado and a really big
Witch flies above Roswell... |
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Yes, I photographed a Giant Witch,
no Aliens, just a giant witch. |
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I took these lying on my back in
the Chase Truck... |
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Viento Encantado flies above us...
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I tried and tried, but I couldn't
quite get it dead center, I was just a little off the baskets
center. |
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Up above.... |
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I think you should close your
eyes, you are looking right up the skirt of a Witch flying above
you.... |
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I love this perspective... |
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And
a newer Balloon with a shimery material glides away from us, this
new fabric is Beautiful. |
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On the way home from Roswell New
Mexico, Welcome to Vaughan, New Mexico.... |
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Vaughan is actually on Highway
285, which passes right thru my hometown of Antonito, Colorado
almost 300 miles north. |
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A BNSF freight comes into Vaughan,
I actually paced this freight for a few miles, speed up and got into
town ahead of it. |
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I love that Silver and Red Unit, my
Great Grandfather and Great Uncles worked for the Santa Fe.... I
remember visiting Gallup and staying at the Hotel with the Sleepy
Bear on the sign and watching freights all night thru the window
passing thru Gallup. |
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I was curious about that unpainted
unit. |
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Just East of Encino, New Mexico... |
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BNSF 5020 leads the way heading
east..... Santa Fe all the Way, Thanks to my Elders for these
wonderful memories... |
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A fast Freight passes a Mixed
Freight in the siding.. |
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Now next week, I may decide to do a Special
Contributors Page and show all the picture's my wonderful friends
send me... so maybe next week or the week after will be dedicated to
all my contributing friends and their photographs...
I will also have the last installment of the
Private Railcar Train and more action from Antonito on the standard
gauge mainline, some stuff from the Raton Balloon Rally and I hope
to include a Visit to a Great Railroad Museum in Madrid, New
Mexico..... and I also got a few request to do a Railroad Swimsuit
Edition, just like some fancy Sports Magazine, but trust me, you
don't want to see me in a Speedo. |
