|
Click On Any Photo To See Large Version
Use Your Back Button To Return |
|
 |
There is that wonderful Therese and
Her Mother.. thanks to her father for this Great Shot... hey that's
some Guy we all know in the Fireman's seat of 488 back there.
This picture was taken on a Special
Train run by the Cumbres & Toltec to recreate a Historic Rio Grande
Freight train for Railfans from all corners of the world. |
|
 |
Oh,
and i hope you didn't get kidnapped by Zombies or Werewolves this
past halloween Monday... I was home giving out Candy, so I hope you
had
a great holiday!!!
happy halloween
Say Hello to my lifelong friend
Sheryl "Dressed as a Witch for Halloween". We went to
school together and also served for 3 years in High School together
in FBLA. Sheryl also worked for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
as a Antonito Ticket Agent for many years before leaving for work in
the Real Estate Field. I
have always felt it is important to showcase the individuals who
have contributed to the Cumbres & Toltec, and Sheryl was a valuable
Employee for many years. |
|
 |
Welcome to Ojo Caliente, New
Mexico... I know this Highway like the back of my hands.... its a
Beautiful Drive. This is
another beautiful place worth visiting while on your trip to the C&T
R.R.. |
|
 |
Sunday the 16th of October 2005, Locomotive 488
with Engineer Ronnie Lopez and Fireman Marvin Valdez take the last
passenger train of 2005 out of Antonito.
These shots were taken on the last weekend of
Operations for 2005. |
|
 |
It was cool enough to allow the steam to make a
Beautiful Steam trails into the air. And of course, there's nothing
like those Beautiful Colorado skies. |
|
 |
Helper 484 at Cumbres. Locomotive Helper 484 was
used to help haul a heavier than average passenger train up Cumbres
Pass, Colorado. Once the Helper reaches Cumbres with the Train it
returns to Chama, New Mexico. |
|
 |
Doesn't she look great, I stayed long enough to
get a few shots for you all. |
|
 |
484 picks up a bit of Steam before the Legislature
Train left Antonito. The Special
Train was run to showcase the Railroad to Personal from the State of
Colorado and New Mexico. |
|
 |
Ronnie checks his time as the steam from 484 rises
above the locomotive. Engineer Ronnie
Lopez of Antonito was given control of this train and ran it to
Chama, New Mexico. |
|
 |
Hey check this out, we stayed a little late
switching in Antonito one day... Beautiful Sunset... if you look in
the lower right hand corner, you can see the glow of the fire. |
|
 |
Leaving Chama on a double-header on a tuesday, so
that means I am in the fireman's seat for Engineer Jeff Stebbins.
Jeff Stebbins is a Engineer from Taos, New Mexico. |
|
 |
There is alot of Railroad History
around Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado, you have to just
look for it.
Here's that Frisco Caboose in Taos. |
|
 |
I hope to get more Details later, but
have been unable to meet the Owner. |
|
 |
This is a Beautiful Caboose.. |
|
 |
I can Imagine what it must have been
like to ride on this down the rails. |
|
 |
A look at the Trucks with Friction
bearings. |
|
 |
A detailed look at the Platform. |
|
 |
And another shot of the Caboose, I
have friends who are interested in the details on this Caboose, I will continue
to try to get more detailed shots for you... just give me a list of
what details you need and I will try to get them for you. |
|
 |
Here comes a Beautiful Railbus....
what a great example of Historic Railroading.
To add a bit of Pizzazz to the
Website, I love to include photo's from other Historic railroads
around our Good Ole' USA and other Great Countries around the Globe.
|
|
 |
Its West Virginia Central Railroad
M-3 riding the rails... |
|
 |
I will have a great collection of
Photographs from this wonderful friend of mine on the new Updates,
there are some great picture's and I can hardly wait to share them
with you.. keep your eyes open. |
|
 |
!!!!Meet a Cumbres & Toltec
Employee!!!!
Here is Ray Martinez, what can I say about Ray..
he has been a Employee with the company for quite a few years now and started
as a extra employee on the Tie Gangs and stayed on full time.. Ray
is a great guy, I don't know how many Slim Jims he as given me over
the years and he spent alot of time with me on Diesel 19 as my MOW
Train Crew. Ray was also involved as a member of the Antonito Shop
Crew that rebuilt and brought Locomotive 487's boiler up to Federal Code. |
|
 |
Here I am in Silverton with the Casey
Jones... |
|
 |
I love this Machine, this is
Absolutely Beautiful... Hint, Hint.. if anybody's listening!!!! I
would love to ride on this thing someday!!!! |
|
 |
Here is the Front end, the Guys in
Durango did a Beautiful Job on this Machine. |
|
 |
I love this Machine, Silverton
Northern Casey Jones. |
|
 |
Here is a look at the rear end, I
love that set-up. |
|
 |
And a look at the front end. |
|
 |
I love the Doors at the rear.... what
a Beautiful machine.... |
|
 |
A new Generation of Railfan looks
over Casey Jones.... way to go little Guy!! |
|
 |
!!!!Meet a Cumbres & Toltec
Employee!!!!
Here is Rudy, Rudy has been with the company
almost 10 years and doubles as the track crew mechanic, Rudy runs
his own Automobile repair shop during the Winter to allow himself
the ability to work for the Railroad in the Summer. One of these
days I will show you his car, he is restoring a Malibu if I am
correct.. |
|
 |
Here we are at Rainbow Field in
Northwest Alburquerque, New Mexico. We are cold-inflating a Balloon
owned by a friend of mine name "Frivolous Pursuit".
Now I just can't railroad all the
time, so I enjoy Crewing for Hot Air Balloons. |
|
 |
Neal is at the Burner
controls of his Balloon. |
|
 |
I love this Balloon, the colors are
stunning against the blue sky. |
|
 |
There is Erika watching "Frivolous
Pursuit" glide south along the sagebrush. |
|
 |
This is third Balloon I have had the
honored to crew for, I am extremely thankful to Neal ----- for
letting me Crew for his Balloon. |
|
 |
!!!!Meet a Cumbres & Toltec
Employee!!!!
Long time Cumbres & Toltec Employee Orlando...
Orlando has been with the railroad longer than I have, he has been a
great guy to me.. and if I am correct also worked on the MOW crew
for the Santa Fe Southern during the winters. |
|
 |
Welcome to another visit to the San
Luis & Rio Grande, a Historic and well known railroad operating thru
the San Luis Valley and based in Alamosa, Colorado.
The Antonito Local is headed North as
it crosses the Alamosa Canal Bridge north of La Jara, Colorado.
|
|
 |
Locomotive
803 has the train with Perlite and Scoria stone rolling along. |
|
 |
These Locomotives used to be on the
Rocky Mountaineer. |
|
 |
It is common to see alot of cars with
Fallen Flag Logo's riding along. |
|
 |
There goes a Cotton Belt Hopper
rolling along. |
|
 |
And Fred brings up the rear......
FRED is a device mounted at the rear of train that radio's valuable
information to the Crew in the Lead Locomotive.
FRED- "Flashing Rear End Device" |
|
 |
The track across the Alamosa Canal
Trestle. |
|
 |
Looking across the trestle, you can
see the train in the distance heading North. |
|
 |
Monday the 24th of October..... Antonito and Chama
track crews from the Cumbres & Toltec are completing a new addition
to the Antonito Yard. They are installing new track and three
switches that will connect the old yard to a new addition southeast
of the passenger depot. This addition will allow access to a New
Shop designed for long term Historic Renovation. The first car that
will enter the shop is Historic Rotary Cook Car 053, Car 053 served
on Rio Grande Rotary trains and will be restored to its original
glory. |
|
 |
The Track crews are in Antonito working on
finishing the track into the Car Repair Facility. |
|
 |
They had to make a few adjustments on the first
switch they installed.... |
|
 |
The points were a little tight on the return
throw, so they made adjustments and they worked quite well. |
|
 |
They also worked on a minor low spot, you can see
the jacks in place to lift the rail to level. |
|
 |
Caboose 0306 sits on the main as the guys work on
the switch, with all the Passenger cars in Antonito, the yard is a
little crowded. |
|
 |
You can see the track leading to the switch that
leads into the Work track behind Fort Knox.
Fort Know is a storage building that was used by
the Volunteer Group until the new building was built. It will now be
used at storage for the Antonito Shop crews and we hope to someday
make it into a Machine shop for the Antonito Car Shop. |
|
 |
Now this is a better view of the work site. |
|
 |
The Tamper sits on the second switch... |
|
 |
Now we are looking East toward the New Shop. |
|
 |
With Rudy in the Pettibone and Toby on the ground,
they are moving the rail and frog pieces to the new and last switch
location. |
|
 |
While the Guys are working on setting the ties and
rails for the Last Switch, the rest are finishing off the
adjustments on the first switch. |
|
 |
They are Tamping in ballast by hand... |
|
 |
As of Monday the 24th, this was the location of
the track heading to the shop... I will have more in the next
update... As of Thursday the 27th of
October 2005, the Antonito Track Crew with Joseph Sisneros driving
the last spike completed the track work into the interior of the Car
Repair Shop... now they will finish leveling the track and adding
ballast.. I will have all the picture's on coming updates.. |
|
 |
Well these aren't the best picture's,
I had a little trouble with the film processing back before the Bill
Noe Donation of a Digital Camera, But I thought you might like to
see a few shots from Raton, New Mexico.
I am a crew member for the
Balloon "Viento Encantado" based out Alburquerque, New Mexico. |
|
 |
"Viento Encantado" lifts above the
field and drifts east. |
|
 |
Now back a little to the
southwest.... |
|
 |
More Balloons lift from the abandoned
air field. |
|
 |
I have always liked that Balloon,
love the colors. |
|
 |
She is standing now and ready for
lift off. |
|
 |
Viento Encantado drifts just above us
as we give chase. |
|
 |
There was quite a few Balloons in
attendance, this was a great rally. |
|
 |
Viento Encantado drifts across the
Raton Skies. |
|
 |
This is a great Balloon.... |
|
 |
I love the spiral effect in the
pattern. |
|
 |
I remember this old building, it
stood here for many years, then one day this Beautiful Mural of "Our
Lady of Guadalupe" appeared, its absolutely Beautiful. Its a Amazing
painting of a Hispanic Tradition and story of the Virgin Mary
appearing to a man named Juan Diego in Mexico... |
|
|
Have a Great Weekend, I will have
another update for you soon... I have plans to visit the Pike's Peak
Cog Railway this Month and am planning to visit the Orient Mine near
Villa Grove on the Old Rio Grande Narrow gauge line north of
Alamosa.... so keep your eyes open and if you have request or ideas,
feel free to e-mail me, I want to include as much as possible for
all of you out there in Internet land... Have a great one. |
|
WEBSITE EXTRA!
HALLOWEEN EDITION
SAY HI TO SHERYL! |
         |
