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This beautiful bird is the Chance
Vought F4U-1D, built in 1945."The whistling death" the Japanese
called it. Made famous by Pappy Boyington of the Blacksheep
squadron, and
also of the TV program of the same name in the late
seventy's. |
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The shop that restored this Plane
is located in Breckenridge, Tx. about an hour north east of Abilene,
or about two hours west of Ft. Worth.Our company is Ezell Aviation.
She's capable of 450 or so MPH top speed! & will burn about 60-70
gallons of gas per hour! in cruise. Estimated value these days is
about 1.6 million!! Currently there are about 20-25 flying,out of
about 12,000 plus that were built. you can visit the shops website
at ://www.ezellaviation.com/
These picture's were taken by
Steven Dickey, thanks and I a few more to share with you, thanks
Steven. |
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Just before her first test run, 488 is getting
fired up and trimmed with silver paint.... |
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At this point everything was basically done, 488
just needed a little touch up painting. |
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Marvin and I were called to take 488 on her first
test run. |
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488 is steaming up. |
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Its morning and 488 is ready for a test run....
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We planned to take a Flatcar to Cumbres and on to
Los Pinos for a work train. |
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Doesn't 488 look great in the morning sun. |
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But during first test run, 488 developed a problem
on her left radius rod and we had to return to chama.... |
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We backed into Chama with a damaged rod,
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It was kinda heartbreaking, but 488 went into the
shop right away.. |
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Now we normally have to send Axle's out for new
wheels, but we working on doing wheels in our own shops now...
Here is axle with one new wheel installed.
The Guys cut the inside diameter of the wheel
14 thousands of a inch smaller than the Axle then heat the wheel to
about 500 degree's, press it onto the axle and then let the wheel
cool to set it in place... |
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The "Blue Arrow" points to the Bearing Surface and
the "Red Arrow" points to surface where the wheel sits... |
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488 is in the shop and the Radius rod has to be
replaced... |
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The next morning we removed the Radius rod and
Combination Lever from Locomotive 494 in Antonito. The Guys in the
shop got on it and 488 was repaired. |
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A look at the Cab of 488..... |
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Looks great doesn't it... |
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488 was repaired and ran a second test run with
Marvin and Steve Montano and she ran great... although 488 wasn't on
the opening day trains, she did come out on sunday and she ran
great.... so 488 is back on the track and pulling passengers for the
railroad. Now 487 did come out, but she had some timing troubles and
since been put back into the shop for adjustments.
I ran 488 back on Monday from Antonito to Chama on
train 215 and she did great, steams like a champ. Tuesday I Fired
for Jeff on 484 for train 216 back to Antonito and she is running
great... |
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These are the last wheels done outside the shop,
if it all works out fine, the next wheels will be done in the chama
shops. |
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They have been polished and are ready for
installation. |
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I was on the Sunday train out of Antonito on Train
1 with 484... |
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Cinder the bear was in Antonito and the kids on
the train loved the Bear, Cinder bear was quite popular... I love
the bear, its cute.... |
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484 at Sublette.... |
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Locomotive 484, if you remember has new rings in
her valve's and I was watching them closely, but they are working
great, man I love this Locomotive, it runs like a Champ. |
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Coming into Osier I noticed 488 coming down the
Siding, that is 488's first Passenger train after her rebuild.. |
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Isn't it nice to see this ole' gal riding the
rails again. |
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Locomotive 488 at Osier on Sunday afternoon. |
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Hello to my Friend Dean, I bet you are glad to see
this Baby under steam... she is running great.. |
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I am Westbound on Train 3 and 488 can be seen in
the distance heading to Antonito with Train 4. |
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Well its Wednesday the 1st of June and there is
Ronnie pulling 484 out of the shop for another day on the C&T. |
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Fireman usually come in about 7:30 in the morning
in Antonito. The fire must be cleaned, the ashes dropped and
Locomotive coaled up.. and this is all done by one guy, so it takes
a little more time than normal.. |
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Ronnie is pulling up to the Main Switch on the
loop, then he will back down to the Coal Ramp. |
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The Track Crew was in Antonito today working on
the New Spur Track to the Antonito Car Repair Shop. |
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Here is Motor-Car 105 standing guard in Antonito
at the Yard road Crossing, Motor 105 used to be the Bumblebee, but
she has a new Paint job now. |
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Wednesday and 484 is at Sublette with Train 215. |
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Locomotive 484 is really steaming Great... |
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The Guys were in Antonito for some more work on
the Spur track to the Antonito Car Repair Facility. They have almost
Connected the Spur back to the new Switch, I will have more
picture's coming soon. |
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Its Thursday the 2nd of June, 2005. I am in Chama
and soon will run 488 and Train 215 over the line to Antonito. |
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Locomotive 484 sits in Chama in front of the Shop
taking a rest. Saturday 484 will power train 2 over to Osier. |
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Locomotive 484 has become quite a reliable and
great running locomotive. |
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Locomotive 488 sits waiting for departure in Chama. |
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Today Soni and I took 488 over the line to
Antonito. |
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Locomotive 488 and Train 216 are in Osier... 488
ran great. |
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I must say the 488 rides really smooth.. and it
steams quite well, not like the old days when it was a Coal Hog. |
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Today we had a minor repair roof problem, the
canvas on one of the Antonito Coaches tore in the wind today and we
had to stop just east of Lava Tank to make a minor repair.. actually
we tore the ripped piece off!!! Ronnie will make a repair tomorrow
in Antonito on the trains day off. |
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I thought 488 looked Great in the Sagebrush.... |
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Friday the 27th, I am on 487 with Marvin Valdez as
Fireman and we are taking a few cars over to Antonito for Opening
Day. |
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We stopped at Cresco to double check 487 and take
on a little water. |
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Locomotive 487 reaches the summit of Cumbres... |
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Ain't she a beauty, you can see the snow hanging
around.... |
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It was amazing, we left at different times and
came into Osier just about a minute apart... Ronnie on 484 on the
Main and me on 487 on the siding. |
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484 and 487 pose together at Osier. |
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First of the Red Painted Cars, 523 brings up the
rear on Ronnie's Train. |
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I am still having a little film and processing
trouble, sorry if my picture's aren't perfect.... |
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Locomotive's 484 and 487 at Osier, friday before
Opening Day. |
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Locomotive 487 at Osier. |
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Thanks to Steven for these great
shots. |
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Thank you for being Patient, I had
to work 11 days straight and was a little behind in my Web Work...
thank You and see you soon. |
