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Now here are two of my Buddies, I
have known these guys for years, they come to the C&T every year.
This is Robert Sayes and Bill Koenig, Bill is on the left... Now we
have a Tradition among the three of us. Every year the guys go over
to the Durango and Silverton and take pictures of the train in
Silverton.. When the train arrives in Silverton, the guys ask the
crew for a few pieces of Coal, which they then bring back to Chama.
The Coal is carried from Durango to Silverton on a D&S Locomotive,
then I carry it on a C&T Locomotive from Chama to Cumbres and then
throw the coal into the fire and burn it on the summit.
It makes for a sort of a Spiritual
connection between the two railroads.. In the Old days it would be
very possible for a Locomotive to carry a single piece of coal over
the whole D&RGW Railroad... so we try to recreate a little bit of
the past with our tradition, someday maybe next year I will have the
Guys take a piece of coal to Durango to carry on the tradition.
In the picture, Bill and Robert
are holding the Coal from Durango before handing it to me... |
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Caboose 0306 sits at the rear of the train for the
first Cinder Bear Express, |
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And here's ole' Cinder Bear. |
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We have been running Marker Lamps on the
Locomotive's, they are actually Soni's and we have been using them
pretty regularly, don't they look great. |
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A detail look at the 487's front end, those Marker
Lamps look great... |
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I decided to climb up on the tender to get a few
more shots for you... |
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How about a view of 05635 from the top of 488's
tender. |
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05635 is coming along just great, I am curious to
see how this rebuild will turn out. |
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With 488 leading the way, and 487 as the road
Locomotive, the Cinder Bear Train will soon be on its way. |
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Well we have arrived and Locomotive 488 is backing
down the leg of the wye to turn around and take control of the
Cinder Train. |
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There goes 488, soon we will be on our way and 488
and the Cinder Train will be in Cumbres for a Hour or so. |
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Well Diesel 19 is still undergoing Traction Motor
replacement. |
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You can see, this is the first truck and it is
jacked up off the rails... the traction motor is bolted to the
frame, once unbolted, it swings downward to allow access to the
actual traction motor. |
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Those old jacks we have are worth their weight in
Gold, they work like a million dollars, you have to hand crank them,
but they work great. |
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Caboose 0306 sits on Track 3 in Chama waiting for
its next assignment. |
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Locomotive 488 sits on the siding in Osier, 488 is
way up next to the Tank, the passenger train was kinda long that
day. |
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If the Train exceeds 10 cars in length we have to
take water at Los Pinos Tank. Anything more than 10 cars and we
would block the Highway in Cumbres and we don't want to block the
Highway.... Today we pulled up to the Tank, Soni got up on the
Tender deck and we were unable to get any water, the rope to the
Flap valve had fallen off the pulley and we were unable to open
it.... 488 had plenty of water, so I decided to go on to Chama.
Max Pacheco got on the Job right away and today,
June 29th we once again stopped and took a long cool drink from the
Los Pinos Water Tank.
The Chama water tank has been out of service
all year, not sure what is wrong, but hopefully the Tank will be
repaired soon... |
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Well one of the Diesel 19's traction motors has
been removed... |
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Here is a new motor ready for installation... |
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If you look to the bottom of the picture, you can
a circular area where the Motor bolts on, |
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Another view of the wheels and motor assembly. |
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Well another double-header has arrived at Cumbres.. |
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The Helper 488 is turning on the wye. |
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I am on the road Locomotive and we are doing a
brake test. |
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488 has turned and swings back towards us and the
train. |
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Another successful double up the Pass. |
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The Private Railcar train arrives
in Monte Vista at Sugar Junction. Welcome to the home of the San
Luis Central. |
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San Luis Central number 70 takes
control of the train and uncouples the cars from San Luis & Rio
Grande 804 & 805. |
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Number 70 and the Private Railcar
train heads North, bound for Center Colorado. |
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I am north of Monte Vista
following the train.. Here comes 70 past a few Grain silo's.. the
San Luis Central is actually a pretty busy railroad, they average
about 80 cars a week out of the San Luis Central and into the San
Luis & Rio Grande line over La Veta Pass... |
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Last year they moved out about
3000 car loads. |
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Number 70 is doing a great job
pulling the Private Railcar train across the Valley Floor. |
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There goes the "Tioga Pass" and
the 70. |
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The "Caritas" brings up the rear. |
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Continuing on to Center, Colorado. |
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Hey, I like that Yard to the left
there, nice green grass.... |
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Good Ole' Number 70, that
Locomotive has hauled hundreds of cars over these rails. |
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On and on to Center. |
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For being out in the middle of
Farmland, this is actually a very Beautiful Railroad and it is quite
a heavy Hauler... 3000 cars a year, that's impressive!!! |
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70 crosses a county road among the
Potato farms and cellars. |
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It is so nice to see number 70
haulin these beautiful cars.. |
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The San Luis Central is actually
pretty easy to follow. Consider spending a day photographing this
railroad... it is worth the visit. |
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I hope to get back to this
railroad and get some Freight action for you. |
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Now out here in the middle of the
San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado is a few Milwaukee Road
Boxcars, they sure are a long way from home. |
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Here comes 70 across the main road
in Center... |
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and the rear of the train comes
across this state highway. |
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Welcome to Center, Colorado. |
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The Train pulls into the yard and
prepares to move the Locomotive around the train. |
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This is about all of the track in
Center, but the train still backed up the track a little to collect
mileage. |
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Here comes 70 to the opposite side
of the train. |
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Number 70 is a GE 70-ton switch
locomotive made in 1955. |
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I like this Locomotive, I really
do... she is a beauty and well taken care of.
I would also like to thank the
Employees of the San Luis Central, this is a beautiful railroad and
a gem of modern railroading... I will be back to visit the SLC! |
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Number 70 backs to the train, now
I will have more in the next updates... I hope you enjoyed your
visit to the San Luis Central... |
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Now here is a Visit to Locomotive
169 in Alamosa, it is being prepped for its paint Job... well, the
Tender anyway. |
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A temporary paint booth was set up
to paint the tender. |
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You can see the Locomotive in
front of the plastic. |
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Everything was covered to protect
the Pavilion. |
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Another look at the Paint Booth. |
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A view of the Tender on the
Engineers side. |
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A look at the Tender Bunker doors. |
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Another look at the Bunker doors. |
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And a look at the Coal Bunker, I
would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce in Alamosa for these
photos and I do have more.... keep your eyes open. |
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A wonderful friend and a Highly
experienced Member of the Crew, a Gentleman named Hugh Ellenberger
brought a few of his Military Buddies to visit Albuquerque and ride
the Balloon, These People were the Best and they were on a Navy
reunion, The Group consisted of the VR-21 Fleet Tactical Support of
the U.S. Pacific Fleet. I loved talking with them and look forward
to seeing them again. |
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We spent the morning trying to get
every one of them a ride on the Balloon. |
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Viento Encantado lifts into the
Air. |
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I am lucky to crew for this
Balloon, Great Pilot and a wonderful crew. |
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The Balloons come in every color
of the Rainbow. |
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This is a especially Beautiful
Balloon. |
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Touchdown.... |
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Welcome to Albuquerque....
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Balloon Capital of the world.. |
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Albuquerque and Sandia Peak rise
behind the Balloons. |
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We flew from a place called
Rainbow Field....... |
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Its amazing, Albuquerque has a
amazing place called Balloon Fiesta Park where the Balloons can
launch from during the Balloon Fiesta, but due to Development, there
is hardly any places to land the Balloons, and the Fiesta Park can
only be used for special occasions, SO Rainbow Field is one of only
a few locations where we can still fly balloons in Albuquerque. |
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We were lucky to have quite a few
Balloons flying that day. |
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I love being in the Balloon Chase
Truck, its amazing to have these Balloons above you. |
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The Balloons float so
effortlessly, it really amazes me how graceful balloons drift with
the wind. |
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Viento Encantado... |
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Owned and Piloted by Clarke
O'Bryne. |
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Viento Encantado flies directly
above me and the crew truck.. |
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I love looking straight up into
the balloons, its a Magical kinda view of the colors and patterns. |
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Big Blue skies and Balloons. |
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Thats all for this week, I will
share some picture's from the Balloon Rally in Raton and a few from
a very special Birthday Party. |
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Well we had a little Party to
celebrate Fathers Day and a few Birthdays in the family....
Here is my Brother and his Wife
Shanda.... that's my brother the constant comedian... |
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And more of my Brother...
Here he is with a honored
friend of the Family... Erica.... |
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And my Brother and his Father in
Law Mr. Taylor. Well
that's it for this Week, have a great one and I will see you
soon.... I am going to sell my hats from work to raise a little
extra cash for my new camera and other expenses.. I will wear a hat
on the Locomotives at work for a week and then the hat will go up
for sale... if anybody is interested, E-mail me for more details. |
