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Welcome to the New Mexico
Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. |
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The Sun sets over the
Mesilla Valley and the Rio Grande near Las Cruces, New Mexico... I
have come to enjoy Las Cruces, my Sweety's parent live there... |
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A Heart-Warming story from
my friend Trini Dominguez about how the Cumbres & Toltec touched her
personally the first time she visited our Railroad.
In Trini's own
Words...... Here is her story as sent to me!
I grew up in Pueblo, Colorado during a
time when the C F & I Steel Mill was running full speed making
things like pipes, and steel frames. I can remember the sounds of
my neighborhood including the Mill noise and the Trains that would
come in to bring supplies, or take the newly made merchandise out all
around the world for distribution. My grandparents lived right near
the Mill and I can remember sitting on the porch just to see the
Train which would pass right in front of their house. I would get
so excited to see the first sign of the Train, I even knew the
schedule when the Train would come in and when it would leave. |
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I always looked for the Engineers, it
felt so cool to wave at them as they traveled with this huge
machine, that I would imagine would bring exotic riches from
everywhere. This was the highlight of my day, my childhood wasn't
full of good memories, except when the Train came by. The Engineers
always made me feel so special, waving back at me, they would even
throw pieces of bubble gum as a way to say "HI ya!" To this day,
when I hear the soothing sound of a whistle from a Train blowing
with all it's power and might, it gives me this wonderful warm
feeling of "home" I never realized how much of an impact this
memory had on me until later in my life when I was lucky enough to do a
story about a Train that traveled between Colorado and New Mexico
called the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. |
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Seeing this magnificent Steam Train
and hearing the roar of the Locomotives while learning about what it
takes to run something like this was priceless. Then when I least
expected it, I got to hear the Whistle blow, and meet the
Engineers. They had no idea what all this meant to me, but it was
like I had come full circle from my childhood, to getting to sit in
the Engineer's cab and see first hand what it looked like from
inside the cab. If I were an Engineer and could spend my day
looking out at all the beauty and wonder of our beautiful world, I
would also toss bubble gum to children and wave as I passed by.
Trini Dominguez is a
wonderful friend of mine and a Photo Journalist with FoxTV.
Thank you Trini, your a
Blessing to me!!! Love ya Bunches!!!!
This is the first in what I
hope will be a new addition to the website, stories and interviews
of my friends and family.. |
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Locomotive 487 and a new visit to the Chama
Shops.... |
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Max and Michael working on 487, it takes some
effort to work on those heavy driver springs. |
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A look at 488 in Chama, I must admit the Guys with
Steve Montano as their foreman and leader are doing a Great Job....
I have argued, the railroad does not need to look for expertise
outside the company when we have all the experts needed to run this
railroad in our shops already.. I would bet my paycheck on that!!!!
And I admit as a Engineer I have every bit of confidence in our Shop
Crew and my fellow employee's. I love my Job on the Cumbres & Toltec
and I love to work with my Fellow Employee's, thats what makes this
railroad and job so special. |
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You can see in this picture how the Locomotives
are held up by the shop trucks. |
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A look at the work being done on 487's running
gear. |
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This is the open smokebox of 487, the guys are
doing a great, they are thoroughly going thru each Locomotive to
make sure they will be in top shape for the summer. |
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Now you can see here how wheels are put into the
locomotives, the axle is first lowered into this pit with a jack
supporting the axle. Then the locomotive is rolled over the pit,
when the correct position is lined up under the locomotive, the rail
sections above this pit slide out and the jack lifts the wheel into
place. |
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Another view of 487 in the shop. Locomotive 484 is
outside while 487 takes up all off track two. |
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You are looking at a Driver axle from 484 on the
"Niles Wheel Lathe", the guys are planning on truing the tire of the
axle and will actually true the Journal also. This will eliminate
imperfections on the journal and will smooth the surface of the
wheel and flange. |
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You can see the point of the lathe stuck right
into the little indention on the counterweight to hold the axle. |
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Everyday the guys in the Chama Shop get more and
more experience at rebuilding locomotive's, Our guys in Chama are
continuing to developing the Skills that have made them one of the
Leading Steam Locomotive Repair Shops in the country. |
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One of the piece's of the suspension is being
worked on, the guys are building up a little bit of wear they found
and the piece will be like brand new.. The guys are staying on top
of the maintenance and are doing a outstanding job. |
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A look at the Bissell Post of one of the
Locomotive's, Orlando has been rebuilding the wear on it by welding
in and grinding smooth the worn spots. |
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You can see how the axle will be worked on in this
picture. Our guys will be able to repair Hub liners with this
machine.. |
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This is Impressive, that is a very big and heavy
piece of Machinery and our guys have mastered it to a amazing level
of precision and expertise. |
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Now you are looking at two Brake Pistons off the
Locomotive, these drive the rods and brakes on the driver wheels. |
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A quick look at the 484 driver wheels in the shop. |
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You are looking at two of the Journal Boxes that
ride on and support the Pilot truck of the Locomotive's, You can see
parts of the bearing and the springs. On top of the box is a round
area and pocket, that is where the springs ride. |
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A look at locomotive 487 in the Chama Shop. |
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A look at 487's frame, you can see all the details
of the machinery that is normally hidden behind the driver wheels. |
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488 takes her turn in the shop..... |
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487 has its front end door wide open, the guys are
checking the interior of the smokebox. |
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Now I am sure there was some talk about the pilot
beams of Narrow gauge locomotives that carry snowplows. This plow is
off the 487 and this is the wooden pilot beam behind it... you can
see how much smaller it is and how it is tapered to fit the smooth
plow that rides on 487. |
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Another view of the wooden pilot beam on 487. The
Coupler actually connects to the plow and not to the pilot beam and
is held in place by a pin directly to the plow. |
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Remember the machinery the guys were using to bore
out the Bissell Post Pocket, this is it.. it is off the locomotive
and waiting to be used on another locomotive. |
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I have always loved the design and construction of
old machinery, there is a beauty to Machinery!!!! |
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Welcome to a few picture's
from my 3 month learning adventure on the Standard Gauge...
the horn on 4302 had a bit of snow in it, had to clear it out so we
could actually make some noise. |
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Crossing the Rio Grande River Bridge. |
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Rolling into Alamosa, we are just
about to pass the old Rio Grande Jordan Spreader... |
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We are taking a quick paper work
break and soon we will be on way south to Antonito. |
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We will be riding the cab of the
second locomotive, Paul climbs aboard and here we go to Antonito. |
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It looks colder than it was, we are
heading out to Antonito. I have passed my GCOR Certification and
continue to sharpen my railroad skills, I am ready for another year
on the Cumbres & Toltec. |
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Click Here For
Video |
Now we are heading north and
are just about to pass the Rio Grande La Jara Depot as we cross the
Main Street in La Jara.
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Hey its Smokey Bear...
Welcome to the 2006 Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally in Las Cruces, New
Mexico.... |
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It was a bit cold for Las Cruces, but
on the first day the Pilots had a great flight, changing winds at
different levels made for some great flying. |
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The Balloons would drift north, then
raise elevation and drift south... great flying. |
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I had a great time.... and we were
able to spend the whole weekend with my Sweety's Parents at their
home. |
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Well worth the visit to Las Cruces to
see the Balloons, I really like Las Cruces, great place. |
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Dona Ana County Fire Department, Las
Cruces's finest were on guard watching for any danger... |
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The Balloon "Viento Encantado" flies
over Mesilla Valley.... |
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I crew for "Viento Encantado" and
here we are deflating the envelope after a beautiful flight. |
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It was a Beautiful Rally with quite a
few Balloons attending, probably 50 or more... |
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And the Wells Fargo Balloons provided
quite a few people with tethered Balloon flights... Wells Fargo
Banks were the official sponsors of the Rally. |
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"Cent'r Stage" sits on the field
during the Rally, this field is actually a cotton field and was
leveled to provide a launching area for the Balloons. |
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Three Balloons in the picture... can
you find the Third one???? |
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Another Beautiful day to fly
Balloons.... |
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One of the Launch Directors in Black,
I thought she looked great... I will have more on the rally in a
Update or two... |
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Click Here For
Video |
Now I am on 4302 riding
behind 4300 as we head to Alamosa, we are crossing the Conejos River
over the old Rio Grande Bridge, similar to the ones in Chama.
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Again welcome to the New
Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
This Museum resides in Las Cruces,
New Mexico below the beautiful Organ Mountains... |
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The Museum spreads over 47 acres and
chronicles 3000 years of agricultural history in New Mexico. |
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I loved this Windmill for drawing
water... its a beautiful structure.. in the background is the Organ
Mountains... |
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I loved the exhibits inside, just as
if this truck had just been driven off the farm into the museum. |
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For Information call
505-522-4100 or visit:
www.frhm.org.. this is a Awesome place and
I would like to thank my Sweety's dad for taking me to visit this
place.. |
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Click Here For
Video |
I am on SL& RG Locomotive
4300 behind 4302 as we roll into Antonito from Alamosa.
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I am in the Albuquerque
Aquarium, this is a Authentic Figurehead from a ship and sits in the
Model Ship Area.. and boy do they have some beautiful model ships.. |
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I have always loved Aquariums and
this one in Albuquerque is pretty cool... |
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The Aquarium is Beautiful and Well
taken care and has some amazing exhibits, one of the best I have
ever been too... worth a visit. |
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Click
Here For Video |
Now here is a look at the Sharks in
the Aquariums large tank.... I love this room, it has a giant wall
of glass looking into the tank... the Sharks appear to swim right
next to you....
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Welcome to the Aquarium in
Albuquerque, New Mexico.. now I think this picture is okay, this
Mermaid is in a area open to Children, so I don't think this Topless
Mermaid is too much for the website... Anyway, have a great one and
I will have another update with more picture's from the Chama Shop
coming soon..
This Mermaid came off a Ship, poor
thing I bet she got cold riding the waves in the wind and cold sea
spray... they should have carved her wearing a sweater!!!! |
